About 95% of high blood pressure incidents have unknown causes, as admitted by medical people who have researched about it for decades. You can even have it without you knowing it, even if you think you are healthy. Because of this risk, you must constantly know your blood pressure and have it checked regularly.
Coffee and smoking will both raise your blood pressure temporarily so be sure you don't smoke or drink coffee for at least thirty minutes before you have it taken. If you're a smoker, you should know this puts you at greater risk for developing high blood pressure than a non-smoker.
Other factors that increase your risk include high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease or another medical condition or if you're over the age of 60 or of menopausal age. When you check your blood pressure, be aware that fluctuations are normal, and a one time high reading doesn't necessarily mean you have hypertension. It's when those readings are consistently elevated that a diagnosis is usually made. Sometimes other medications you may be taking can contribute to raising your blood pressure.
There are changes in your lifestyle and diet that you can make to lower your risk of developing and even preventing high blood pressure. Below is a listed of these changes. The more you embrace these changes into your life, the more you lower your risk.
> Limit alcohol to two drinks per day or even less
> Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if needed
> Cut your fat intake to less than 30%
> Limit added salt and be mindful of sodium content in prepared foods
> Exercise regularly at a moderate level of intensity several times a week
> Stop smoking
> Be sure you get at least 1000 mg (milligrams) of calcium every day. Good sources are dairy products, broccoli, canned salmon, figs, tofu and kale
> You also need 2500-3000 mg of potassium daily. Get that from fresh veggies and fruit, nuts and dairy products. Look for low fat brands of dairy products.
> Get 350-400 mg of magnesium daily. You'll find it in dark green veggies, whole grains, seafood, legumes, nuts, and soybeans.
> Get a good night's sleep. Inadequate sleep can actually raise your blood pressure even higher if you already have hypertension.
> Relax more. Reduce the stress in your life, particularly if you have risk factors for high blood pressure. Consider taking up yoga or meditation to learn how to relax.
> If you drink a lot of coffee (more than 2-4 cups) every day, consider cutting back or eliminating it altogether. It can help lower your blood pressure, but only slightly.
Something else you can do to lower your blood pressure is to use the Natural High Blood Pressure Program I developed that lowers your readings naturally.
You only need to do a few simple exercises, and you only need a few minutes each day to do them. The program has been highly successful in lowering the blood pressure of hundreds of people safely and naturally.
High blood pressure has many different names but the one you hear most often is hypertension. It also has several negative affects on your body including stroke, heart attack, dementia, and of course death. Checking for high blood pressure is something you should concern yourself with at every medical check up. There is no sense in waiting until it is too late and you end up in a situation that you may not be able to walk away from. The biggest thing you can do for yourself is change your lifestyle to help avoid hypertension and reduce the negative affects this silent killer will have on your body.
You may be wondering what you can do to avoid the severe complications of hypertension besides checking for high blood pressure. Well there are quite a few things you can do to avoid the complications of high blood pressure and they are pretty simple to do. So let's take a look at some ways you can help yourself. Losing some extra weight is a great start. If you lose even ten pounds it can help lower your blood pressure. Also maintaining a great weight loss program can aid in the effectiveness of your blood pressure medication. Regularly staying active can be a big help in avoiding complications. Thirty to sixty minutes every other day is all you need to help steer clear of any rise in your blood pressure. Improving the way you eat can also be a great way to improve your blood pressure. Eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and even low fat dairy products. Decrease the amount of salt you ingest. The more sodium you take in the more your blood pressure will increase. Basically you want to eat more fresh foods and enjoy them for what they really are. If you drink try to drink in moderation. There are definitely benefits to your health by having a single glass of beer or wine a day but beyond that it has adverse affects on your blood pressure. Avoid tobacco products and all secondhand smoke at all costs. Nicotine is a leading contributor of increased blood pressure. Well now you have a few ideas of what you can do to help avoid those severe complications associated with high blood pressure. Don't forget there are many more things you can do and the best one is continue having regular exams at your personal physicians' office. It all comes down to the idea that you only have one chance so why not improve that chance by taking care of yourself.
Both Christiangoodman & Terry Stanfield are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Christiangoodman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sleep Apnea, Blood Pressure. Christian Goodman is a well known alternative researcher and the creator of the alternative health Blog. His latest work is the Hypertension No More. Christiangoodman's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.
Terry Stanfield has sinced written about articles on various topics from Birthday Party, Diabetes Treatment and Dog Care. Visit Geromatrix's site for information on and other. Terry Stanfield's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.