How can I lower hereditary high blood pressure?

You have got prehypertension. Adopt DASH diet (Mediterranean diet). Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet, which includes cottage cheese, fat-free milk, fish, vegetables, poultry, and egg whites. Use monounsaturated oils such as olive, peanut, and canola oils or polyunsaturated oils such as corn, safflower, soy, sunflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils. Avoid foods with excess fat in them such as meat (especially liver and fatty meat), egg yolks, whole milk, cream, butter, shortening, pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter, chocolate, olives, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other than cottage cheese), coconut oil, palm oil, and fried foods.

Hi John, Based on what you have written I find it hard to believe that your BP was 139/80 mm Hg. There are a number of things you must adhere to when taking your blood pressure. You must never do your blood pressure when active, shopping, or standing up. You must sit still for at least five minutes. The cuff must be of the correct size and it must be applied correctly. Yes, you are doing all the right things. I hope you do not smoke or eat a lot of poly saturated fats or red meats. Smoking, poly saturates and red meats are the other major factors which contribute to hypertension. If I were you I would get my GP involved. He/She has more tools. If you look after your BP now you are assured that you will prevent the complications which arise later in life. Good luck.