It's a condition 72 million Americans are living with. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Most people are on meds to control their levels, but the pill popping has side effects. Researchers say learning how to relax may be the best medicine.
It's something monks have known for centuries. Now modern science is catching on.
A study at Massachusetts General Hospital found simple relaxation techniques lowered the blood pressure of 80 percent of patients and helped more than 60 percent reduce their medication doses.
"What we know is that the technique causes the release of nitric acid," Randall Zusman, M.D., director of the division of hypertension at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, explained to Ivanhoe.
That chemical release causes blood vessels to dilate, improving blood flow. How can you naturally reduce your blood pressure? Doctors say take 20 minutes to unwind every day -- 
listen to classical music, pick a word or phrase you believe in. Say it to yourself while breathing slowly and concentrate on relaxing your muscles.
According to the Mayo Clinic, losing just five founds if you're overweight will help lower your blood pressure. Listening to mozart three times a week has also been show to reduce blood pressure, as well as cutting your salt intake, increasing your exercise time and quitting smoking.
