Lifestyle change won't lower blood pressure, study shows

February 10, 2009 A study in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension says people who take medication alone to reduce high blood pressure are more likely to get it under control.

Exercise, weight loss and other lifestyle modifications are widely recommended.

Many people put off taking drugs in hopes that changing their habits will make a big difference, But the finding shows, in the real world, for the great majority of people, lifestyle change is not effective in lowering blood pressure.