What can I do?

Every adult near or past middle age should ‘know their numbers’ – ie your height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
You should also have regular blood pressure tests if there is a family tendency for hypertension. This way, treatment can be started before any complications arise.
Change your lifestyle:

• stop smoking
• lose weight
• exercise regularly – as a minimum, 20 minute sessions, three times a week, sufficiently intense to induce some breathlessness
• cut down on alcohol – aiming for less than 21 units a week for men, 14 units a week for women
• eat a varied diet
• avoid all salt in food
• reduce stress by trying different relaxation techniques or by avoiding stressful situations.

These changes will lower blood pressure – to reduce your risk of developing the condition in the first place or to treat hypertension.