Roughly, over the last 80 years, death by heart disease has increased from less than 1% to 50%. It has been reported that almost a million Americans die through heart failure every year.

Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats and when it is at rest. A person's blood pressure changes throughout the day depending on what a person is doing physically, feeling mentally (strong emotions can increase blood pressure), food that has been eaten, and depending what time of the day it is. It is natural for a person's blood pressure to fluctuate somewhat.

So, when it comes to maintaining good blood pressure, the first thing to realize is that YOU are responsible for your own health. Medications don't cure. They only treat the symptoms. The first thing to realize is that maintaining good blood pressure means is not difficult, but needs a commitment to treating the root cause. Indeed, if you have this condition, your health is in your hands and only you can maintain or change the situation.

One of the best things you can start today, to have a major impact on your overall blood pressure, is to start consuming healthy dark chocolate. Cocoa is loaded with a variety of phytonutrients, making it very high in antioxidants. The flavonoids in cocoa help the blood vessels dilate easier, allowing more blood flow to the heart. Fish oil and folic acid has been proven to be beneficial as well. Start a regular habit of taking this nutrition as well as taking some physical exercise. Around 15-30 minutes a day exercise. Take enough exercise so that it gets you puffing and panting. This improves cadiovascular function.

While stress is unavoidable, minimizing stress or reducing it to an acceptable level is a must for health (good blood pressure), wellness, longevity, and productivity. Stress leads to numerous physiologic effects. Stress will cause charged particles known as free radicals to increase in the system. Free radicals contribute to the aging process, vulnerability to infections and various cancers. Substances called antioxidants in nutrition (such as cocoa) and some nutritional supplements fight and neutralize these free radicals and maintain good blood pressure as well. Studies have shown that 15 minutes meditation per day can maintain good blood pressure.

Maintaining good blood pressure can be summarized by the following main features, take as much as natural nutrition, three times a week some physical exercise and creating a stress-free surrounding for 15 minutes meditation.