Living with high blood pressure

Living with high blood pressure. Practical steps for people monitoring or treating high blood pressure.

For: People monitoring or treating high blood pressure

General guidance across countries. Sources checked 2026-09-26.

What helps over time

Reduce salt, including in stock cubes and heavily salted packaged foods. Choose more vegetables, fruit and minimally processed foods, keep physically active as able, avoid tobacco and limit alcohol.

Medicines may still be needed despite healthy habits. Do not stop because you feel fine or because a reading improves. Discuss dizziness, side effects, pregnancy plans and all medicines or herbal products. Follow-up may include kidney tests, urine tests and checks of other heart risk factors.

Sources

  1. High blood pressure · Public sector health information · OGL v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Read the complete High blood pressure topic