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Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Prevention

To prevent high blood pressure:

  • Get regular aerobic exercise

  • Limit your intake of salt and alcoholic beverages

  • Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats

  • Avoid smoking

  • Maintain a desirable body weight

Hypertension increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. So it is important to modify your risk factors for coronary artery disease. In addition to the above actions, you should:

  • Quit smoking

  • Reduce your high LDL (bad) cholesterol

You may be able to cure your hypertension with lifestyle changes alone.

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From Health A-Z, Harvard Health Publications. Copyright 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.

You can find more great health information on the Harvard Health Publications website.