High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure it means your heart is working harder than it should.  High blood pressure (a hidden cause) can result in heart attacks and hardening of the arteries.  If you don’t deal with it responsibly and lower high blood pressure you will face the increased risk of a stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and other serious illnesses.  High blood pressure more often than not can go undetected and works away quietly damaging your heart and arteries. 

High blood pressure treatment can help control your blood pressure and lower the risk of having a debilitating illness.  Nearly half of people who have high blood pressure (hypertension) are totally unaware that they have it and more than half of those who do know they have got high blood pressure don’t have their blood pressure under control.

Your blood pressure is considered to be high if the top number is 140 or higher and the bottom number is 90 or higher.  This means that your heart is working harder than it should to pump blood and it is necessary to take measures to control it.

Whether you have high blood pressure or not you should take plenty of exercise.  The easiest for most people is brisk walking, so try to take a brisk thirty-minute walk at least three times a week and even better every day.  Cycling and swimming are also very good exercises.

It is advisable to avoid stress whenever possible.  Stress is a known factor, which contributes to high blood pressure.  Try to avoid heavy traffic where possible, as we all know that being or driving in heavy traffic is tiring and increases our stress levels, which can lead to high blood pressure. Don’t worry unnecessarily about things that you can do nothing about.  Deal positively with each problem as it arises and then put it behind you.  Look to the future and stop thinking about past events.  Worrying contributes not only to high blood pressure, but many other illnesses as well. If you are in a stressful job, then try changing it for a more trouble free zone.

Having a pet such as a cat (sitting on your lap) or taking a dog for walks can help you unwind and has been shown to bring noticeable decreases in blood pressure.  Try meditation once or twice a day or take up a hobby such as gardening, playing music or needlework.  All will help with decreasing stress levels and bring your high blood pressure down.

If you are obese or overweight follow a high blood pressure diet and shed some pounds.  Carrying too much weight makes the heart pump harder and blood pressure rises. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables every day.  Start every day with a bowl of porridge either made with water or semi-skimmed milk.   Do not add sugar for sweetness, but try adding some berries, such as blue berries or cranberries for flavour.  Porridge helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

If you are a heavy drinker, then cut back on your alcohol intake and try limiting yourself to one drink a day.  Sit and relax with your drink at the end of the day.  Most heavy drinkers tend to have high blood pressure.

Smoking contributes to hardening of the arteries and injury to blood vessels, which is bad for anyone but is particularly bad for those with high blood pressure.

Author: Emma Lyne