I have been concerned with high blood pressure so I have definitely made a few steps toward getting mine under control. Bill takes medication to keep his in check and I bought him a digital monitor so he can check his pressure, he likes to play doctor and check mine also and mine is never normal. If you have high blood pressure it damages your blood vessels and increases your risk for a stroke, heart and or kidney diseases.
If you have concerns for your self then below are a few lifestyle changes that need to be made and a few steps that can be taken if you want to lower your blood pressure. If doing these changes do not help and you have to use medication, continue doing the changes along with the medication. Bill’s dosage is very small, but it seems to help him a lot.
If you use tobacco of any kind, stop your use or decrease it significantly. Nicotine makes your blood vessels constrict resulting in a faster heart beat. This faster heart beat raises your blood pressure. You can easily find products that can help you quit smoking or help quit the use of other tobacco products. This life change is not always easy, I am now on my 14th day and I have the urge to smoke daily.
Try to stay clear of sodium , alcohol and caffeine or at least limit your intake. Sodium isn’t harmful to everyones blood pressure, but until you know for sure, it is better to take precautions. I buy things with low sodium because I have always been a saltaholic, but I use sea salt now because it’s a healthier choice. I’m not a health nut, but I did decide I don’t want to be helpless and paralysed or dead yet so I’ve made some changes.
Alcohol can and does cause high blood pressure in some people, my ears and face use to turn very red and get very hot. I like to drink, but I have stopped it for awhile, but if you can’t do that then at least try to only drink one or two alcoholic beverages a day. If you know this is increasing your blood pressure, try to quit altogether at least for awhile.
Alcohol will add many pounds to your frame over a period of time and can also contribute to diabetes. Your health is always at risk no matter what you do, so use your best judgement and rely on your doctor to help answer any questions you might have about your body and health.
If you are overweight you are at a high risk of high blood pressure. I really detest the word diet so I wont suggest one however I would suggest a healthier eating program for life and exercising regularly is very beneficial to lowering your blood pressure. Plan an exercise routine and track your progress. This will show you what is working and what is not. I have been exercising more and doing all the things I have listed in this post.
Stress can and does sometimes affect your blood pressure. Stress is very common and there are millions of ways to help reduce stress. Try some relaxing techniques first and if none of these work talk to your doctor. They may have some better suggestions, meditation is great. I’m sure the suggestions above can and will help, but even if you do have to take medication it’s worth it to stay healthy and talking to your doctor is the best solution for any concerns you might have.
