Lowering Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is known as the “silent Killer”, and the number one cause of premature death in the western world. One in three adults have high blood pressure, many adults have it without knowing as it rarely displays any symptoms. High blood pressure can cause a heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, so it really is vital to get your blood pressure checked regularly. If you do have high blood pressure don’t panic as there are plenty of ways to quickly lower blood pressure.

Take Regular Exercise

If you are able, start taking some exercise today. Regular exercise makes the blood vessels more flexible and the heart stronger so it is able to pump blood around the body more efficiently. It also makes it easier to achieve a healthier weight if you are overweight.

Don’t overdo it! Walking is a great way to start your exercise regime. Try to do thirty minutes per day, five days a week. You can start off by doing three ten-minute sessions, or two fifteen-minute sessions, and build up gradually as your stamina improves. You should walk at a brisk pace so that you feel quite warm and slightly out of breath.

If you blood pressure is between 140/90 and 179/99 then it should be safe to start taking some exercise. If your blood pressure is higher than 180/100 then your doctor may prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure before you begin to exercise.

The sort of exercise that is good for your blood pressure is: cycling, dancing, swimming, tennis, jogging, walking.The sort of exercise that is not good for your blood pressure is: weight lifting, squash, sprinting.

Drink Plenty Of Water

Drinking water at regular intervals throughout the the day prevents the body becoming dehydrated. This is especially important when taking exercise. When the body is low on water the brain reacts by constricting the veins and arteries, so causing an increase in blood pressure. Remember: drink plenty of water, not alcohol, coffee, or soft drinks that contain sugar as these drinks actually cause dehydration.

Cut Down On The Salt (Sodium Chloride)

Research carried out over a period of fifteen years and involving over three-thousand people who were on the verge of developing high blood pressure, showed that reducing their salt intake from about ten grams per day to seven grams per day cut their risk of developing a stroke or heart disease in the next ten to fifteen years by between twenty-five and thirty per cent, and they had a twenty per cent lower risk of dying prematurely than those who ate ten grams or more salt per day.

Nearly everyone eats too much salt. Try to cut down on how much salt you eat to less than six grams per day. At first your food may taste bland, but as your taste buds adjust to a low-salt diet you’ll soon get used to it. If you really can’t do without it try a low-sodium substitute.