-Eat a Mediterranean or DASH-style diet, supplemented with nuts.
-Monitor high blood pressure at home with a cuff device.
-Keep pre-hypertension from becoming high blood pressure by making lifestyle changes such as getting more physical activity, eating a healthy diet and managing your weight.
-Reduce the amount of sodium in your diet; sodium is found mostly in salt.
-Visit your healthcare provider annually for blood pressure evaluation.
-If your medication to lower blood pressure doesn't work or has bad side effects, talk to your healthcare provider about finding a combination of drugs that work for you.
-Don't smoke. Smoking and taking oral birth control pills can significantly increase your stroke risk. If you're a woman who experiences migraines with aura, smoking raises your risk of stroke even more than in the general population.