Healthy living
It’s not only your diet that affects your blood pressure, it’s your lifestyle overall.
How active you are, whether you smoke and how much alcohol you drink, for example, all make a big difference. In this section, we look at what affects your blood pressure and the best things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally.
The best part is, all these changes will work together to keep your heart and your body healthy.
Alcohol
See if what you drink is within the recommended guidelines and find out how many units your favourite drinks contain – it’s often more than you think.
Your weight
Being overweight can raise your blood pressure and put extra strain on your heart. By keeping to a healthy weight, you can look after your blood pressure and your heart.
Exercise and physical activity
Exercise can keep you healthy, but it doesn’t have to mean running marathons. See how you can be more active and keep it going in the long term.
Smoking
Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your blood pressure and your overall health. Find out about the benefits and who can help.
Stress
Think your high blood pressure is all down to stress? See what the science shows.
Sleep
Did you know that the amount of sleep you have can affect your blood pressure?
Healthy eating
There are lots of simple changes you can make to what you eat to lower your blood pressure, such as eating more fruit and veg and choosing foods low in salt.
Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ
