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best article about how to reduce blood pressure
How to Reduce High Blood Pressure
Debra Gropp | 15th September 2006
Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure? Are you taking medication to regulate it? If so, please know that there are also natural ways to help reduce high blood pressure
What is blood pressure? Everyone has 'blood pressure'. It is a measure of how hard your heart has to work in order to pump blood throughout your body.
A ânormalâ blood pressure level is usually around 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic), although this can vary depending on age, stress and lifestyle. As a general rule, if your blood pressure is higher than 140 over 90, you should talk to your doctor.
How do you find out if your blood pressure is high? A person with high blood pressure can look and feel perfectly okay. There are usually very few obvious symptoms. The only way to know your blood pressure is to have it measured.
You should have it checked if you haven't had it done in the past two years. If you are aged 40 or over, you should get it checked about once a year, especially if you smoke, suffer from obesity, or drink to excess.
The most important thing to remember if you discover that you have high blood pressure is not to panic. High blood pressure is relatively common and is caused by a variety of factors. Fortunately, it usually responds very well to proper treatment, so - don't worry!
What are the effects of high blood pressure? High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. Over time, this can lead to an increased likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
Family history of high blood pressure - If you have a family history of high blood pressure and your own blood pressure is high, your doctor may recommend drug treatment. This will usually be for life, although the risk of a stroke or heart attack is usually greatly reduced.
No family history - If your blood pressure is high but you don't have a history of high blood pressure in your family, your doctor may still recommend drug treatment. However, in most cases, your doctor will advise you to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
GUIDELINES FOR REDUCING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
*Quit smoking: Smoking and high blood pressure are two serious factors for heart disease and stroke. Smoking 20 cigarettes a day gives you twice the normal risk of a heart attack and five times the risk of a stroke.
*Avoid being overweight: High blood pressure and stokes are twice as common in obese people.
*Eat less salt: Switch to low-sodium brands of salt. Don't add too much salt to food, especially processed food (processed food often contains high levels of salt). Spice your food with other ingredients.
*Eat more fruits and vegetables: Regular amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables help to maintain a normal blood pressure. They also help protect you against heart disease and cancer. Make lots of homemade soup (disguises the taste of green vegetables!) and eat lots of chopped fruit (chopped fruit is less frightening than whole pieces of fruit!)
*Get more active: Long term regular physical activity can lower your blood pressure. Provided you take it slowly to begin with and gradually build up to about 20-30 minutes a day, exercise has enormous benefit. Always consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
*Learn to relax: Stress is a major contributory factor to disease. Exactly how it affects blood pressure is not known, but anything that helps to ease your mind and reduce worry is GOOD. So go with the flow and start relaxing.
For healthy living and weight loss resources and informational links to diets, health issues, mental health issues, and how to reduce disease through nutrition and lifestyle, please visit .
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