There is no quick and safe way to lower blood pressure outside a medical facility. Lifestyle changes that include exercise, diet and stress reduction techniques can naturally lower blood pressure over time. Blood pressure higher than 180/120 along with headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea or loss of balance can indicate a hypertensive crisis. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 so medical personnel can safely lower your blood pressure. A person may be able to get an accurate, and possibly lower, blood pressure reading by: Correctly measure blood pressure: A cuff that is too small or that a person wears over clothing can raise the reading. Do not cross your legs or tense your body during the measurement. Rest before measuring blood pressure: Getting up and walking immediately before sitting down to measure blood pressure can artificially inflate it. Manage stress or anxiety: High stress can raise blood pressure. Therefore, it is best to try to measure blood pressure after receiving the results of medical tests, rather than before. A person can also try taking a reading after meditation or deep breathing. Abstain from smoking: Nicotine in cigarettes can raise blood pressure for about 30 minutes, so it is best to avoid smoking shortly before a blood pressure test. Bladder emptying: A full bladder can slightly raise blood pressure. Maintaining silence: Talking during a reading may cause it to rise. Avoid caffeine and alcohol: Both caffeine and alcohol can raise blood pressure, especially when a person drinks in excess. Abstaining from drinking on the day of the reading will lead to a more accurate result. Summary There is no safe and effective way to lower high blood pressure quickly at home. The best way to lower high blood pressure is to make the changes over several days or weeks so that the body can adapt to them. If your blood pressure is dangerously high and needs to be lowered quickly, it should be done at a health care facility. When lowering blood pressure at home, it is important to involve your doctor in the process. Talk to your doctor about natural ways to lower blood pressure, such as improving your diet and increasing physical activity. Recommendations for diet and physical activity can vary from person to person. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor about ways to lower your blood pressure - to make sure they are safe for you.   [cool_tag_cloud on_single_display="local"]