Aside from those things that have been discussed above, there are other things that you can do to lower your blood pressure. You can lower the risk of high blood pressure if you maintain a healthy weight. Try losing some weight, study have shown that a 10-pound loss in weight have a 3-point drop in diastolic pressure. You can lose weight by watching your diet, eat less fat and engage in regular exercise.
Try to quit smoking. Nicotine is found to have a constricting effect to the blood vessels. A constricted blood vessel equals to high blood pressure. So kick that bad habit.
Drink in moderation. Study has shown that a little alcohol can reduce the risk of heart attack to both men and women by raising the levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) – the good cholesterol. But drinking more than two shots of alcohol may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure and even heart disease. So much is enough? According to the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, the recommended alcohol consumption should not be more than a drink a day. A drink is equal to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or a cocktail made of 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Try to minimize your consumption of caffeine. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant and has been found out that the consumption of caffeine can increase your blood pressure. So try to lessen your consumption of coffee, tea, cola, cocoa and chocolate.