High blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure 139 (the upper number) or a diastolic blood pressure 89 (the lower number). For diabetics, the cutoff is lowered to 129/79. Several disorders may cause high blood pressure. By far, the most common cause is essential hypertension. Other reasons include as mood disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, endocrine disorders, and more. Even if your blood pressure is normal at age 55, you still have a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure in your lifetime. There are several ways to reduce your blood pressure safely without resorting to medicines. None of them are easy. Weight loss, physical exercise, avoiding too much caffeine, quitting smoking and alcohol, and lowering your salt intake have all been proven to help lower blood pressure. However, if your blood pressure is 20 above the limits on at least 2 occasions, your doctor may recommend you start a medicine while changing your lifestyle at the same time. Please note that there is little-to-no evidence to support claims that certain herbs may help reduce blood pressure naturally . If you do decide to start taking herbal medications, be sure to inform your doctor to avoid possible drug-herb interactions.