Managing Prehypertension Without Drugs Keeping your blood
pressure below 120/80 mm Hg is important to good health. High
blood pressure (also called hypertension) is 140/90 mm Hg or
greater, and blood pressure between 120/ 80 and 139/89 is
considered "prehypertension." This means that you are more
likely to develop high blood pressure. Both hypertension and
prehypertension can increase your risk for stroke, coronary
heart disease, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure,
especially if they are uncontrolled, says the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute. People with prehypertension often
show early signs of stiffening of the arteries, enlargement of
the heart, or changes in the way their kidneys work. Although
maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways
to lower your blood pressure without taking medication, you can
take other steps to beat this leading cause of cardiovascular
disease. These lifestyle suggestions can help keep blood
pressure in control. Exercise your options Work ou