Heart Health Heart Healthy Lifestyle

In some cases, high blood pressure can be controlled without medication.


In general, the normal blood pressure reading for healthy adults is 120 over 80. As your blood pressure increases above the normal range, so does your risk for having a heart attack or stroke. In addition, suffering from diabetes or obesity can make the complications from high blood pressure even worse. Although drugs are commonly prescribed to help control blood pressure, you can also fight hypertension by making changes in your lifestyle, such as getting more exercise, adopting a healthier diet, reducing salt intake, reducing alcohol intake and quitting smoking. These changes can greatly reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke and, in some cases, alleviate the need for medications.