Can exercise replace medication for high blood pressure?

Regular aerobic exercise can lower systolic pressure by about 5–8 mmHg, which is meaningful and sometimes enough in mild hypertension. Never stop prescribed antihypertensives without your doctor's guidance.

Aerobic exercise, weight loss, salt reduction and limiting alcohol can together achieve reductions comparable to one medication in mild hypertension.

Whether medication is needed depends on your total cardiovascular risk, not the number alone — age, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking and kidney function all factor in.