More than 70 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure but prescription drugs used to control hypertension sometimes can have potentially dangerous side effects.

The effort to battle high blood pressure has grown even more complicated because several lots of popular blood pressure pills have been recalled since last July due to possible cancer-causing contaminants.

But you may not have to rely on medication and instead may be able to take a natural path to get your blood pressure under control.

Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a renowned cardiologist, tells Newsmax, “There are so many ways to lower your blood pressure without the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. I use many supplements along with a non-inflammatory diet to achieve remarkable results with my patients.

“Sometimes this simple approach along with weight management and stress reduction even helps patients who are on medication reduce their dosage.”

Sinatra says that the current guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are that normal blood pressure readings should be below 120/80.

Here are some suggestions on how you can take control of your blood pressure naturally. Never stop taking your medication, however, and always check with your health care practitioner before making any changes in your lifestyle plan.

1. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. Sinatra likes the PAMM diet plan which stands for Pan Asian Modified Mediterranean. “The absolute best way to lower blood pressure is being more mindful of what you eat,” he says. Choose foods low in saturated fat, sugar, trans fat, and sodium. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich grains, fatty fish, nuts, legumes and seeds.
2. Manage Your Stress Level. Sinatra says that stress can be as much of a “silent killer” as hypertension. When we are tense ourbodies produce hormones that constrict blood vessels, making our blood pressure rise. Yoga and meditation have been scientifically proven to reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

You also may want to read this article.