High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and kidney disease.  You can maintain healthy blood pressure by changing your lifestyle or combining lifestyle changes with prescribed medications.

Key lifestyle changes include the following—

• Have your blood pressure checked regularly.
• Maintain a normal body weight (body mass index (BMI) of 18.5–24.9; BMI is  kilograms divided by height in meters squared). Click here to calculate your BMI.
• Take at least 1 brisk 10-minute walk, 3 times a day, 5 days a week.
• Follow a healthy eating plan of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low in sodium.
• Quit smoking.
• If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation (no more than 2 drinks per day for men and no more than 1 drink per day for women).
• If you have high blood pressure and are prescribed medication(s), take as directed.

The incidence of high blood pressure in the United States has continued to rise steadily through the years. High blood pressure increases the risk of other serious health issues including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Currently, about one in every three Americans suffers from high blood pressure.

Data are self-reported by respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Resources for heart and vascular diseases are at National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as well as at the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, CDC.