Is it possible to prevent hypertension. i'm only 47 exercise, non smoker etc. bp keeps slowly rising. the medicine therapy scares me. ?

Not entirely: Congratulations on taking the highly recommended lifestyle approach to preventing and controlling hypertension. But due to genetic and other uncontrollable factors, lifestyle, while it can go long ways, is not always entirely effective. The commonly used drugs, including Losartan, convey more benefit than harm. If prescribed, take aithfully. Keep up lifestyle--it keeps dosage to a minimum.

See below: You can help to lower your BP by loosing weight if overweight. In the PREMIER trial reducing meat(including foul) to once a week reduced rate of hypertension by 23%. Cutting out all meat except fish reduced incidence of HTN by 38%. Cutting out meat and fish(vegetarian) reduced rate of HTN by 50%. Also eliminating all dairy/eggs(vegan) reduced rate of HTN by 75%.