While taking medication for high blood pressure will probably not land you in a drug treatment center, some patients have the desire to maintain a drug-free lifestyle if possible. So if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may be able to control it without medication. Here are a few tips that can help you with your endeavor to control your blood pressure without medication.

• Control your waistline and watch your diet. Blood pressure is almost always tied to weight. You can decrease your blood pressure by simply losing 10 pounds.
• Engage in regular physical activity. Medical and health professionals recommend that adults should engage in 30 to 60 minutes of activities most days of the week. Even if you are just starting an exercise program, you should be able to see a difference in your blood pressure within a few weeks.
• Maintain a healthy diet. You can lower your blood pressure by consuming a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. You should also try to reduce the consumption of high fat foods.
• Lower your sodium intake. Just slightly reducing the salt in your food can help your blood pressure. Try to consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day if you are trying to control your high blood pressure.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Limited quantities of alcohol has been shown to decrease blood pressure but the benefit is lost if you drink too much. Drinking more than a moderate amount (two drinks per day from men, one per day for women) will potentially raise your blood pressure.
• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. The nicotine in tobacco — including secondhand smoke and smokeless tobacco — can raise your blood pressure. This in addition to other smoking danger.

Check with your physician regularly to make sure you are achieving your goals of lowering your blood pressure.