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Mr Rasheed Abubakar has been diagnosed with high blood pressure for years yet, he uses no medication to manage it. Despite being over 60 years, his active life has got him too preoccupied to visit the hospital on a regular basis for drugs to manage the condition. Although he could be considered as one of the very few lucky ones, skipping drugs to manage high blood pressure has sent many to their early grave as well as made others have some other medical conditions. High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if the individual is over the age of 80). Ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. A Family Medicine & Geriatrics expert based in Pennsylvania, Dr Melinda Ratini has said that there are lifestyle changes that individuals can engage in to lower their blood pressure. In a publication published by WebMD and reviewed by Dr Ratini advise, “If you have high blood pressure, there’s plenty you can do every day to control it. Eating healthier, exercising more, and tweaking other day-to-day habits can help keep your readings in check. That might keep you from needing medication to keep your numbers where they should be.”The expert is of the view that blood pressure can be reduced through the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. This is by eating lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy as well as foods that don’t have much fat or cholesterol. DASH diet includes lean meats, poultry, fish, and nuts and should be high in protein and fiber. Avoid sugary drinks, red meats, and sweets, she advised.Shedding a few extra pounds can lower the blood pressure. Too much bulk around the waist can affect BP. For women, a waist of more than 35 inches is high. For men, it’s more than 40 inches.Check BP regularly to ensure it doesn’t get too high. High blood pressure often doesn’t have symptoms. So measuring the BP is the best way to tell if diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are working.When the overall health is well managed, it will help keep blood pressure in check. Ensure other health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and thyroid disorders are under control.