The American Heart Association estimates that hypertension or high blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the United States, or 73 million people. Hypertension, or the excessive force of blood pushing against vessel walls, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder and contributes to hardening of the arteries and the development of heart failure.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers some tips to help prevent hypertension.
Lose weight if your are overweight. You're considered overweight if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more. Your doctor can tell you your BMI or you can calculate it yourself using several sites on the Internet.
Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, both of which are low in sodium and high in potassium.
Cut back on sodium (no more than 2,300 milligrams a day) by choosing and preparing foods with little or no salt and avoiding the saltshaker at the dining room table.
Engage in regular physical activity at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week.
If you consume alcohol, do so in moderation. Consume no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one a day for women.
If you smoke, quit.