A systolic blood pressure near 140, once considered acceptable by doctors, is now known to be risky and puts our lives at risk.

People with high blood pressure in middle age had nearly five times the risk of dementia later in life compared to those with normal blood pressure.

Targeting a lower blood pressure was found to reduce the chance of developing dementia by 14% in a follow-up to the SPRINT study.

One analysis concluded that the DASH diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, might be the most effective way to lower blood pressure without medication.

Instead of one long workout, you can sprinkle short bursts of physical activity, or 'exercise snacks,' throughout your day to help lower blood pressure.

If lifestyle changes are not enough, medications like Ozempic can be considered a tool to help with weight loss, which in turn helps control blood pressure.

The SPRINT study was stopped early after just 3.3 years because the evidence was so clear that lowering blood pressure to below 120 made a huge difference in reducing mortality.

To protect both heart and brain health, the new evidence suggests most people should aim for a systolic blood pressure of less than 120.