Can High Blood Pressure Be Cured or Reversed?

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is common in the U.S. In 2019, the American Heart Association (AHA) reported that nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. 

If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, it is natural to wonder if you are going to have it for the rest of your life — or if there is something you can do to reverse it. In almost all cases, high blood pressure can be lowered to normal levels. For some, this requires medication. But for others, a cure might be possible depending on what is causing their high blood pressure.

Can hypertension be cured? 

Whether or not hypertension can be cured largely depends on what is causing it. First, it helps to understand that there are two main types of high blood pressure: 

1. Primary (or “essential”) hypertension: This is high blood pressure that is not caused by an underlying medical condition or medication, which affects 90% of people with hypertension.  

2. Secondary hypertension: This is high blood pressure that is caused by another medical condition or by medication. This accounts for about 10% of hypertension cases.

In some cases, secondary hypertension can be cured by treating the underlying condition. Some medical conditions that are common causes of secondary hypertension are:

• Kidney problems

• Obstructive sleep apnea

• Problems with the adrenal glands 

• Coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta

• Problems with the thyroid or parathyroid glands

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

So, for example, some people’s high blood pressure may be cured after they have surgery to remove the parathyroid glands or to fix a narrowed aorta. In other cases, like with ongoing kidney problems, a person may need to take medication to keep their blood pressure in a healthy range.

Can you reverse primary hypertension?

Primary hypertension cannot be completely reversed. But that doesn’t mean everyone with this kind of high blood pressure needs to take medication. Some people are able to keep their blood pressure within a healthy range with lifestyle changes. But that requires sustaining these habits long term.

People with slight-to-moderate high blood pressure are more likely to see results from making lifestyle changes alone. For people with very high blood pressure, it’s more common to need both lifestyle modifications and medication. 

The different levels of high blood pressure are listed below. And they depend on both the systolic blood pressure — the top number — and the diastolic pressure — the bottom number:

• Prehypertension, or slightly elevated blood pressure: a systolic blood pressure of 120 to 129 and a diastolic blood pressure of 79 or lower 

• Stage 1 hypertension, or moderately high blood pressure: a systolic blood pressure of 130 to 139 and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89

• Stage 2 hypertension, or high blood pressure: a systolic blood pressure of 140 or above and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 or above

• Severe high blood pressure: a systolic blood pressure of 180 or above and a diastolic blood pressure of 110 or above, which should be evaluated urgently

One systematic review found that people whose blood pressure was well controlled on a single medication had the best chance of maintaining a normal blood pressure after they stopped taking medication. In the reviewed studies, approximately 1 out of 4 people seeing success with a single medication were able to stop taking their blood pressure medication altogether and maintain a healthy blood pressure for 2 years of follow-up. 

What are natural ways to lower your blood pressure?

If you want to avoid taking medication for your blood pressure, here are some changes that may be able to help:

• Limit alcohol. The AHA recommends having no more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.

• Find a healthy weight for you. There is a correlation between higher body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure risk. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to lose weight if you have high blood pressure. But if weight loss is one of your goals, losing a few pounds might make a difference in your blood pressure levels.

• Eat fruits and vegetables. Research suggests that blueberries, avocados, grapes, broccoli, and carrots are particularly good at lowering blood pressure. And some beverages, like beet juice, may help as well.

• Incorporate movement into your daily routine. Even if you don’t get the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise, regular physical activity may improve your high blood pressure. 

• Prioritize sleep. Make changes to your daily sleep habits and aim for at least 7 hours of shut-eye a night. If you struggle with insomnia, you might be surprised to learn that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment for sleep problems.

• Limit sodium. Eating too much sodium (salt) can raise blood pressure. But combining a diet that is low in sodium with foods that are high in potassium can help lower blood pressure. 

• Nix the nicotine. Quitting smoking might not lower your blood pressure as much as other lifestyle changes, but it’s still recommended. Smoking stiffens your blood vessels, making your risk of heart problems and stroke much higher. 

• Reach out to a friend. Feelings of loneliness and disconnection have been linked to high blood pressure. Finding human connection and companionship can help.

• Lower your stress levels. In both the short and long term, having ongoing strain in your work or home life can lead to high blood pressure.

It may take a few months of consistently incorporating these changes to lower your blood pressure enough that you don’t need medication. And keep in mind that not all cases of high blood pressure can be treated with natural methods alone. 

Experts suggest that it is probably best to start taking medication if lifestyle changes don’t improve high blood pressure within 6 months. Having high blood pressure for too long puts you at risk for many serious health issues, including stroke and heart problems.

Can supplements help reverse high blood pressure?

Although they can’t replace a healthy diet and lifestyle, certain supplements may aid in lowering blood pressure. Research indicates that these supplements might be helpful:

• Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10)

• Fish oil

• Vitamin C

• Garlic

• Magnesium

• Potassium

What medications can raise your blood pressure?

In addition to making some of the changes above, it may also help to review your daily medications if you have high blood pressure. It’s possible that one or more of your medications could be raising your blood pressure. This is a commonly overlooked reason for high blood pressure, and even over-the-counter medications can be the culprit. 

Frequent contributors to high blood pressure include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and indomethacin

• Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine

• Stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine

• Some birth control pills

• Steroids, such as prednisone and prednisolone

If you take one of these medications and notice that your blood pressure is higher than usual, talk with your healthcare provider to figure out whether a different treatment might be needed. 

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Written by:

Nicole Rowe, MD

Dr. Nicole Rowe, MD, is a telehealth family practice physician. She received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and completed her residency in family medicine at University of Colorado’s Swedish Medical Center.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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