High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health condition that’s devastating more than a quarter of the world’s population. But since many people are not aware that they may be suffering from this ailment, the statistics on the actual number of suffers might in fact be higher. However, people everywhere are growing increasingly knowledgeable about this “silent killer” that presents in no predictable manner and are visiting the doctor to determine their blood pressure level.

It is generally recommended that people, who are diagnosed as hypertensive, meaning that their blood pressure is consistently above 160/90 mm Hg, monitor their pressure regularly with the assistance of their doctor. In fact, it is also suggested that persons who are considered boarder line hypertensive should similarly monitor their blood pressure. Fortunately, from a psychological standpoint, people who aware of the dangers of this illness do tend to rely on and follow the advice of their doctor. Culturally, this is not unexpected since there is a great amount of esteem and respect for medical doctors in the western world.

This cultural ethos can be quite beneficial to western cultures since it means that people in the west can more easily be protected from the ravages of hypertension through regularly visiting their doctor. If eradicating high blood pressure becomes a national imperative, doctors can be used as one of the primary conduits to get the word out to citizens. And, given that people are generally responsive to the advice of doctors, focusing on preventative measures can significantly reduce the incidence of high blood pressure. Moreover, since a preventative campaign can eventually reduce the number of persons who will experience full blown hypertension the need to resort to synthetic drugs for relief will be minimized.

In fact, it has been demonstrated that when the development of hypertension is caught in its early stages, it is possible to achieve normal blood pressure by simply adjusting lifestyle habits. For example, people who simply modified their diet or engaged in a regimen of exercises very easily lowered their blood pressure and were able to maintain it within the normal range without medication. In addition, it has also been demonstrated that reducing alcohol consumption and eliminating smoking are also effective in lowering blood pressure.

Together these findings indicate that when caught early, blood pressure can be controlled by making a few simple adjustments in lifestyle. Regular visits to your doctor will help to ensure that elevations in blood pressure are detected early. Early detection will allow you to control blood pressure naturally without the need for medication. What you know can help you; monitor your blood pressure regularly.