4 Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a health condition that many people suffer from, and a lot don’t even know it; it affects roughly one-third of adult Americans. The problem is, it is not an insignificant complaint, and it can lead to heart disease, stroke, and even death.
Therefore, if you do have high blood pressure, it is crucial that you try to lower it as much as possible to avoid any complications. Here are some natural ways it can be done but remember, it is always wise to see a medical professional for a full diagnosis and advice before embarking on any kind of treatment or therapy.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is important for everyone, but for those who have high blood pressure, it can do more than simply help you to lose weight and get fit. When you exercise, your heart muscle becomes stronger which makes it more efficient when it comes to pumping blood around the body. In turn, this means that there is no ‘backlog’ of blood, your arteries will have less pressure on them, and your risk of becoming unwell will decrease.
You don’t have to do a lot of vigorous exercises for this to occur; a 30-minute brisk walk is enough to lower blood pressure significantly. This means that even if you have already felt the repercussions of high blood pressure and are recovering from a heart operation or undergoing stroke therapy, you can still get the right amount of exercise to prevent high blood pressure in the future.
Drink Less Alcohol
Alcohol can raise your blood pressure significantly, and drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol can mean that your blood pressure is permanently higher than it should be. A moderate amount is around one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, so if you are having more than that on a regular basis, it is time to consider cutting down or quitting altogether.
Manage Stress
Stress is a big reason for many people’s high blood pressure. We live in a driven society where everyone is busy all of the time, and it is hard to find a moment’s rest. However, the more you work without relaxing and unwinding, and the more stressed you are about things without taking the time to work through them, the higher your blood pressure will be.
Relaxation is an important part of de-stressing. There are many ways to relax including:
- Listening to music
- Being creative
- Going for a walk
- Taking a nap
- Massage
- Enjoying a soak in the tub
- Watching TV
- Playing sports
What you do will depend on what you enjoy and what makes you feel happy. Try it out, and you’ll find you are better able to deal with stress, and your blood pressure will lower too.
Lose Weight
Being overweight can cause a big strain on your body, and that will increase your blood pressure. Losing just five percent of your overall body mass could help to reduce your blood pressure by a significant amount, and it will help to keep your heart healthier too. Plus, you’ll feel more active and better in yourself.
Losing weight isn’t always easy, and it should be done gradually; if you lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time, it is more likely that you will put it back on again when you finish your diet. Do it gradually, and it is more likely you will keep it off.