Nearly 10 million Iranians suffer from hypertension and 50% among them are unaware of their blood pressure (BP) status, says Dr. Ali Akbar Sayyari, deputy health minister. Using tobacco can damage the lining of artery walls and increase BP. Too little potassium and Vitamin D, and too much salt in diet can also lead to hypertension, ISNA quoted him as saying. Eating a healthy diet with less salt, exercising regularly and losing extra weight are effective lifestyle changes to treat high BP.
