If you have been told that your blood pressure is quite high (that is, that you have hypertension), then what you were really being told was that your lifestyle is not especially good. This is because, unless your hypertension has come about because of ethnicity, age, sleeplessness or medication, you are doing something wrong in your daily life.
Blood pressure control for most people means initiating lifestyle changes for the better or taking tablets for life. If you have hypertension but you cannot get to see your physician as often as you would like, you could always buy a home blood pressure monitor and keep an eye on your blood pressure yourself.
The best sort to get is an automatic digital monitor with a self-inflating cuff. It should also have a pulse monitor and a number of memories, although you can always use good old-fashioned pen and paper. They are not costly any more and ought to cost between $30 and $100.
Some have a lifetime warranty and are as accurate as your GP's sphygmomanometer, which is the gold standard of blood pressure monitors. You should take your readings at the same time every day (or two or three times a day at the same times) and keep a record of it or them. In this way you can compare your progress (or lack of it).
The first thing to do is stop smoking (if you smoke, obviously) and then cut down on heavy drinking sessions, if you do that). Doing that will improve your general health whether you have high blood pressure or not.
The next thing to do is to reduce your weight, if you are overweight by dieting and exercise. If you are not overweight, you will still have to increase your degree of exercise and change your diet for the following reasons. Exercise decreases your blood pressure and an excessive amount of salt (also called sodium) will raise your blood pressure.
So, whichever way you look at it, you will need to exercise more and take on a low-sodium diet. One of the methods of reducing sodium in your diet is by eating fresh fruit and vegetables and stop eating canned and other fast foods, which are stuffed with salt.
These lifestyle changes are not simple, so if you have to take some of them on board, think about seeking help. For example, you could use patches to help you quit smoking. You could visit the pub less frequently or just go there later in the evening. You could ask your spouse to go on the diet too or you could join a support group on or off line.
There definitely are lots of resources out there to help you avoid hypertension, but if you just cannot be bothered, then pop along to your medical doctor's and order your first batch or high blood pressure tablets and be sure to make a repeat appointment, because you will be going back and fore for the remainder of your life.
Blood pressure control for most people means initiating lifestyle changes for the better or taking tablets for life. If you have hypertension but you cannot get to see your physician as often as you would like, you could always buy a home blood pressure monitor and keep an eye on your blood pressure yourself.
The best sort to get is an automatic digital monitor with a self-inflating cuff. It should also have a pulse monitor and a number of memories, although you can always use good old-fashioned pen and paper. They are not costly any more and ought to cost between $30 and $100.
Some have a lifetime warranty and are as accurate as your GP's sphygmomanometer, which is the gold standard of blood pressure monitors. You should take your readings at the same time every day (or two or three times a day at the same times) and keep a record of it or them. In this way you can compare your progress (or lack of it).
The first thing to do is stop smoking (if you smoke, obviously) and then cut down on heavy drinking sessions, if you do that). Doing that will improve your general health whether you have high blood pressure or not.
The next thing to do is to reduce your weight, if you are overweight by dieting and exercise. If you are not overweight, you will still have to increase your degree of exercise and change your diet for the following reasons. Exercise decreases your blood pressure and an excessive amount of salt (also called sodium) will raise your blood pressure.
So, whichever way you look at it, you will need to exercise more and take on a low-sodium diet. One of the methods of reducing sodium in your diet is by eating fresh fruit and vegetables and stop eating canned and other fast foods, which are stuffed with salt.
These lifestyle changes are not simple, so if you have to take some of them on board, think about seeking help. For example, you could use patches to help you quit smoking. You could visit the pub less frequently or just go there later in the evening. You could ask your spouse to go on the diet too or you could join a support group on or off line.
There definitely are lots of resources out there to help you avoid hypertension, but if you just cannot be bothered, then pop along to your medical doctor's and order your first batch or high blood pressure tablets and be sure to make a repeat appointment, because you will be going back and fore for the remainder of your life.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on a number of subjects, but is currently involved with work on foods for high blood pressure. If you want to know more or check out some great offers, just go to our site at High Blood Pressure Recipes.
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