Hypertension, or high blood pressure rarely has symptoms, although some patients say they can tell because they feel differently. Even if you don’t have symptoms it doesn’t mean you don’t have high blood pressure. It turns out, hypertension is serious due to the fact that it increases the risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and other health problems. Prolonged high blood pressure has proven to damage arteries which have the potential to affect all organs in the body.
Those who are at risk of developing hypertension are adults age 50 or over and those with a family history of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is on the rise in young adults and children as well. It is mostly due to a sedentary lifestyle which includes spending hours playing video games, binge watching television shows and eating unhealthy salty and sugary snacks.
In 2013, more than 360,000 Americans died due to high blood pressure being the primary cause. Surprisingly, patients with high blood pressure don’t even bother getting their prescriptions filled. Patients should understand that lack of symptoms doesn’t mean you are healthy. Hypertension is also referred to as the silent killer for this very reason. The good news is, you can actually control high blood pressure in a variety of ways, including the ones listed below.
Learn Your Blood Pressure Numbers
Visit your doctor and discuss your high blood pressure issues in detail. Take note of your blood pressure reading every time you are tested. Blood pressure readings that are less than 120/80 is considered optimal, while readings that have the top number between 120 and 139 with the lower number between 80 and 89 are considered to be at risk for developing high blood pressure. Any reading more than 140/90 is considered high blood pressure. Doctors generally diagnose patients with high blood pressure, or hypertension after two consistent readings that above 140/90.
Make Lifestyle Changes to Lower Blood Pressure
Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption is at the top of the list when making lifestyle changes. You will also want to avoid eating processed, high sodium foods. Eat a healthy diet that is filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, poultry, fish, lean meat, nuts and plenty of water. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine for about 30 to 60 minutes per day helps you to shed pounds which helps lower blood pressure levels. Reducing stress by eliminating unnecessary daily stressors and learning coping techniques for unavoidable stressors will also help you maintain blood pressure levels.
Avoid Sodium to Lower Blood Pressure
As mentioned earlier, you will want to modify your diet and eat healthier. Reducing and avoiding sodium in the diet is one of the most difficult tasks high blood pressure patients have to achieve. First you will need to avoid using table salt and lower your total sodium intake to 2400mg per day. The reason it is so difficult for patients to avoid sodium is due to unawareness. Sodium is in almost all processed foods, including popular items like pizza, pickles, ham, tomato sauce and canned vegetables. Learn to check labels on all food items that you purchase, you will be surprised at the amount of sodium in each product. Also keep an eye on the serving size. Often the sodium amount on the label will read 250mg, while you feel this is acceptable, it is only for one teaspoon of canned soup. Which means each spoonful of soup you consume add up, before you know it you have consumed your entire daily allotment of sodium in just one bowl of soup. Choosing fresh fruits and vegetables and learning how to cook tasty dishes will help eliminate the risk of consuming too much sodium.
Natural Blood Pressure Supplements
Discuss natural blood pressure supplements with your doctor. The most popular natural supplement that people are flocking to is PD120. This effective natural blood pressure supplement helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels, is made with natural ingredients, has no side effects, and improves energy, strength, motivation and libido. PD120 is an excellent option for those who are seeking natural healing. Always speak to your doctor first before adding any natural supplement to your daily regimen.
High blood pressure can be controlled, however it takes discipline, determination and motivation to adapt to a healthier lifestyle. Some patients may feel overwhelmed with all of the life changes they may have to change. It’s wise to take one step at a time.
First speak to your doctor regarding blood pressure medication and natural supplements. Remove all processed food from your kitchen and replace them with fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, nuts and lean meats. Schedule exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, such as swimming, walking, bicycling, yoga or tai chi. As you adjust to each change you will begin to feel better, more energetic and actually enjoy the lifestyle changes long term.
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