High blood pressure can be a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease. As many as 90 percent of Americans may eventually be affected by it. Even if you aren't elderly, it would be wise to take proactive steps to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. However, since the number of people affected by high blood pressure increases with advancing age, it is especially important if you are older to pay attention to, and take care of, any high blood pressure problems you may develop.

Fortunately, it is very easy to do. But, you will need to make certain that whoever takes your blood pressure does it properly. With over two-thirds of the U.S. population overweight, it is important to have the right size cuff when measuring your blood pressure. It will also be important to pay attention to the position your arm is in during the reading.

However, "taking care" of high blood pressure is something that comes in a variety of forms. Most conventional physicians will tend to reflexively prescribe a drug to control your blood pressure.

These medications treat your high blood pressure but fail to address the underlying causes of the problem, leaving you still at risk. Additionally, many of these medications have side effects, which arguably make the "cure" worse than the disease; side effects can range from dizziness to diabetes and, ironically, heart attacks.

Some may be ill to the extent that medications are called for and worth the risk. However, the vast majority of high blood pressure cases can be treated safely and naturally by following some simple guidelines:

• Reduce the amount of stress in your life. Stress is one of the principle causes of high blood pressure. Make sure you get enough sleep, avoid skipping meals, and consider using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), a psychological acupressure method, to resolve any emotional distress you may be experiencing.

• Eliminate grains and sugars from your diet.

• Exercise. Get in 60-90 minutes of vigorous exercise each day.

If you use these methods to take care of yourself, high blood pressure will likely never hit your arteries, and for that matter you will avoid even more serious chronic degenerative diseases, like cancer, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

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