How to Lower Blood Pressure

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

High blood pressure is not a pleasant condition. In fact, if the high blood pressure is not controlled, it could lead to heart attack, stroke and even death. That is why while this high blood pressure is still manageable, it is best to keep it down for good. But how can you lower blood pressure? Do you need medication for that? In some cases, high blood pressure can be maintained by medications but if that’s not the case yet then there is certainly a few things that one can do to keep it down. If you are interested to know what they are then here are awesome ways to maintain a low blood pressure.

Exercise, exercise!

This may have been the simplest way to lower your blood pressure but it is also one of the most ignored. Exercising regularly at least 30 to 60 minutes every day can help lower down blood pressure by 4-9 millimeters of mercury. If you have other underlying conditions that prevent you from exercising, it’s best to consult your physician first about the types of exercise you can do. Try to avoid squeezing all your physical activity in one day as sudden bursts of energy can be risky.

Keep it low on salt

It is recommended that you limit sodium to 1 teaspoon a day or less. So before you eat something check out the salt content in it. If you love to cook and use salt often, make sure that you limit the use of salt. You can use herbs and spices as alternative to salt in flavoring your dishes instead.

Lose weight

Generally, the more you lose weight, the lower your blood pressure gets. So if you want low blood pressure, lose weight. Plus once you lose weight, your medications can work effectively. Keep an eye on your waistline too. The bigger your waistline, the risk of having high blood pressure is also at hand. Men who have waistlines greater than 40 inches are at risk for high blood pressure while 35 inches in women.

Eat a healthy diet

This is another thing we keep ignoring. Eating your fruits and vegetables is the best way to beat high blood pressure. Stay away from processed food, it’s high in sodium. Junk foods, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks; fatty, spicy and fast foods also contribute to high blood pressure. So if you want to control your high blood pressure, start by checking the food you are eating. If it’s full of nutrients, minerals and healthy compounds, it’s good for you.

Reduce stress

Although we can’t truly avoid stress, it is best to keep it at bay. In case you feel stressed, take a deep breath and let it out. Treat yourself with a day at the spa, get a relaxing massage and take a break. This will reduce the stress factor.

Some of us experience high blood pressure because we tend to brush off any signs and symptoms that our body feels. Because of this the situation worsens and before we know it, we already have high blood pressure. Regular check up with your doctor can help control your blood pressure before it gets worse. Make sure to have a routine schedule for this even if you are very busy. Keep in mind that it’s always better to prevent than cure.