BloodPressure.ie helping you to control your blood pressure by looking at:

Your diet

Look at what you eat on a day-to-day basis and see what changes you can make right away, such as switching from white to wholegrain bread which is much higher in heart-friendly fibre, and moving from full fat to semi-skimmed milk.

Your exercise regime

Exercise doesn't just help you look and feel better by controlling your weight, it has positive effects on your cardiovascular health too. Even small changes to your daily routine such as taking the stairs rather than the elevator or leaving the car behind when going to the newsagents will help get your heart into shape.

Your bad habits - if any!

Smoking and excess alcohol can do real harm to your overall health, and are particularly bad for your blood pressure. Too much stress can also drive blood pressure levels up. If you're a smoker you could ring the National Quitline on 1850 201 203, and find out more about the options and support that are available to you. Perhaps you could also look at cutting your alcohol intake by 1 or 2 units a week.

Always remember to take your blood pressure medication every day

TOP TIPS

• Exercise helps combat weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even beats stress, so make exercise an everyday habit
• Watch your diet - a balanced diet that includes fresh vegetables, fruit, cereals and fish is great for your blood pressure
• Watch out for foods that are high in cholesterol such as biscuits, fatty meat, chocolate, cream and cheese