Lowering High Blood Pressure
Lowering high blood pressure needs to be top priority if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The research on high blood pressure is staggering- having blood pressure that is seriously elevated can double or in some cases even triple a person’s risk of falling victim to a heart attack, stroke or kidney disease. Lowering high blood pressure by controlling it is essential for sufferers as doing so can reduce the chance of heart failure by 50 percent; reduce the chance of having a heart attack by 20 to 25 percent and reduce the chance of having a stroke by 50 percent (according to the Seventh Report of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, December 2003). To learn more visit http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca.
Lowering high blood pressure can be done by becoming smoke-free; by maintaining a healthy weight (even losing a few pounds can make a difference); by reducing the amount of salt you consume and by eating a diet that is healthy, well-balanced and as free of fatty and fried foods as possible. Lowering high blood pressure involves keeping in constant contact with your doctor about your blood pressure problem. For example, discuss with your doctor if you should eat foods that are high in potassium or not. These include banana, cantaloupes, a variety of types of melons, oranges, grapefruits, molasses, prunes, potatoes, tomato juice and prune juice.
Other non-drug options for lowering high blood pressure include incorporating physical activity into your daily life; limiting how much alcohol you consume (which is to say, a two drink minimum per day to a maximum per week of 14 drinks for males and 9 for females); and finding effective methods to release tension. Relaxation is a key point and it is also an excellent stress buster. While relaxation may not directly contribute to lowering high blood pressure, it can certainly play an important role.
Lowering high blood pressure sometimes involve medication as there are incidences when changes in eating habits or other lifestyle habits are simply not enough. If your doctor prescribes medication to you for lowering high blood pressure then always take it as directed. Do not increase a dose, skip a dose, stop taking it all together or “double” up if you happen to have missed a day or two worth of doses because you were feeling ill or simply forgot. Keep in mind that high blood pressure does not often have overt symptoms therefore how you feel physically, be it good, bad or fair is not usually a good indicator of the state of your blood pressure. In order to keep blood pressure at a normal rate you must take your medication faithfully, at the proper times and as often as is required.
