Lifestyle factors that increase the chances of high blood pressure are being overweight, abusing alcohol, smoking, chronic stress, eating too much salt or too little potassium, being sedentary. If you take control of these issues, the chances are you can control your blood pressure. You should pay even more attention to all these factors if high blood pressure runs in your family, if you are over the middle age, and if you are African-American.

When you look at your blood pressure numbers you want to see less than 120 for your systolic blood pressure (first number) and less than 80 for your diastolic blood pressure (second number).

All studies show that if you are overweight, loosing your weight helps to lower your blood pressure. Even loosing several pounds can make a difference, while the desirable BMI shoudl be no more than 25.

Some people are highly sensitive to salt and this factor can raise their blood pressure. Salt attracts water, your blood vessels soak it up and expand, so the blood rushes through the vessels with higher pressure. if you are sensitive to salt you should eat no more than 2400 mlg (1 teaspoon) of salt a day. Pay more attention to processed food, because it is usually full of salt.

Potassium and calcium help your blood vessels to relax, so the blood can flow though the vessels more freely. You should try to load up on foods full of potassium and calcium: beans, potatoes, avocados, bananas, clams, low-fat yougurt and skim milk.

Research shows that 16% of high blood pressure cases are caused by excessive alcohol use. You should consume no more than 1 drink daily if you would like to keep your pressure under control.