You can really help your blood pressure health by working regular aerobic exercise into your routine and by this I don’t mean you have to start training for a marathon.

30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling or swimming, five times a week is enough to make your heart and blood vessels more flexible and efficient, which helps to lower your blood pressure.

Exercise to avoid if you have high blood pressure

If you’ve got high blood pressure you’ll need to avoid exercise which involves short bursts of intensive activity, such as squash or weightlifting, which will raise your blood pressure and put unnecessary strain on your heart and blood vessels.

• 30 minutes of aerobic activity five times a week can lower blood pressure by 4-9mmHg.

Being active will also help you to keep to a healthy weight, which is good news for your blood pressure.