I am a 57-year-old Asian woman. I am 156 cm tall and underweight at 84 lbs. I don't smoke nor drink alcohol. I don't eat food that contains much salt, sugar or fat. I walk in total about 1 hr. 10 mins. daily. My mother, 80, has hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis.
My diastolic blood pressure is OK, most times in the 60s and sometimes 50s and 70s. However, I just noticed in November 2011 that my systolic blood pressure has gone up a lot. In the previous months April to October 2011, monthly readings were 120s and twice 130 (last reading before Nov was 127 on 10/10). Since 1 Nov I have been taking readings daily and they were mostly 140s and 130s, and low 150s a few times, and even 161 once.
I suspect that my high systolic blood pressure is due to hardening of my arteries from old age and/or heredity. It seems that my lifestyle is OK. Is there any way to lower my systolic blood pressure apart from taking medication ?