Blood pressure needs to be controlled through healthy habits and reducing stress levels. Physical activity helps control hypertension. Blood pressure is a silent killer, as the saying goes.
High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is a symptomless “silent killer” that quietly damages blood vessels and also leads to serious health issues.
Periodic blood pressure checkups are important to know if it is in the normal range.
If diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is good to monitor one’s blood pressure regularly. Maintaining an awareness of one’s numbers can alert the person to any changes and help detect patterns. Tracking the results over time will also reveal if the changes made are working.
While there is no cure for blood pressure, using medications as prescribed and making lifestyle changes can enhance the quality of life and also reduce one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and more.
Table of Contents
Make changes that matter:
- Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in salt.
- Limit alcohol.
- Enjoy regular physical activity.
- Manage stress.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is essential.
- Quit smoking.
- Take the medications properly.
- Work together, health care professional.
Managing blood pressure is indeed a lifelong commitment. If a person has high blood pressure, it is vital that the patient listen to the health care professional.
Educate yourself about HBP and also learn how to monitor one’s blood pressure at home.
By adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, it is possible to:
- Reduce high blood pressure.
- Prevent or even delay the development of high blood pressure.
- Enhance the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.
- Lowering the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney damage, vision loss,and sexual dysfunction.
Few more tips:
1. Lose extra pounds and watch one’s waistline
Blood pressure often increases with weight. Being overweight can also cause disrupted breathing while asleep (sleep apnea), which further raises blood pressure.
Weight loss as a most effective lifestyle change for controlling blood pressure is important.
2. Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity helps lower high blood pressure by about 5 to 8 mm Hg. It is important to keep exercising to keep blood pressure from rising again. Daily, at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity are good.
Exercise can indeed help keep elevated blood pressure from turning into high blood pressure (hypertension). For those suffering from hypertension, regular physical activity can bring blood pressure down to safer levels.
3. Eat a healthy diet
Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and low in saturated fat and cholesterol can lower high blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg. Potassium in the diet can lessen the effects of salt (sodium) on one’s blood pressure. The best sources of potassium are foods, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than supplements.
4. Reduce salt (sodium) in your diet
Even a small reduction of sodium in one’s diet can improve heart health and reduce high blood pressure by about 5 to 6 mm Hg.
5. Limit alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure by several points. It can also, in fact, reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.
6. Quit smoking
Smoking does tend to increase blood pressure. Stopping smoking will help lower blood pressure. It can also, in fact, reduce the risk of heart disease and help improve overall health, possibly leading to a longer life.
7. Get a good night’s sleep
Poor sleep quality, like getting fewer than six hours of sleep every night for several weeks, can lead to hypertension. A number of issues can disrupt sleep, including restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and general sleeplessness (insomnia).
Conclusion
Maintaining proper blood pressure levels is important for overall good health.