Your pressure levels are easily affected by things you do just before you're tested. Smoking and drinking coffee can cause a temporary rise in your pressure which will show up on the results. Because of this, it is best to avoid any of these before you see your doctor as you can be tested at almost all doctor's visits.

Other more serious health conditions that can cause high blood pressure are...

A stroke
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Heart disease

If you suffer, or have suffered from any of these it is a good idea to get yourself regularly checked. If you're over the age of 60 then it's a good idea to have regular checks as well.

You can help yourself reduce your blood pressure with the ten tips below.

Keeping your weight low will reduce the pressure on the way your whole body performs. Being overweight can out a strain on every major organ in your body.

Limit your intake of any alcoholic drinks.

Sodium is well known for increasing your blood pressure so you can change to a low sodium salt if you use it on your food, or you can cut it out altogether. Salt is also in a lot of foods so it's a good idea to read the label before you purchase any.

Smoking kills hundreds of thousands of people every year so this should be cut out even if you don't suffer from hypertension.

Getting regular exercise increases the strength of your heart and lungs as well as reduces your blood pressure. Just some easy, moderate exercise for half an hour a few times a week. Just walking will increase your heart rate enough for it to have an affect.

Eat a diet low in fat, especially saturated fat. Your body needs some fat to function properly so you don't need to cut it out altogether. Some vitamins and minerals are transported around your body in your fat, and all you need to do is stick to the healthy fats.

Getting enough sleep will lower your hypertension.

Cut down your coffee intake if you're a caffeine junkie. You can drink decaf if coffee is your favorite beverage.

Learn to relax more if your life contains a lot of stress. Meditation is a great way to relax, but it can take a while to master.

Take the time every day to do something you enjoy doing. Giving yourself a quality 30 minutes every day will make a difference in your life.

These are ten simple tips you can start doing today to lower your blood pressure.