According to the American heart association: high blood pressure (hypertension)
currently affects about 65 million Americans age 20 and older, or almost 1 in 3 adults. Furthermore,
hypertension affects nearly 40% of African Americans. Also called "The Silent Killer"
because of its lack of symptoms, high blood pressure significantly raises your risk of
heart disease and stroke. It can also lead to kidney failure and atherosclerosis (fatty buildup in
arteries) and even blindness!
Without a doubt, high blood pressure is a serious disease and, if left untreated, has very serious
results. Don't worry, there is good news. High blood pressure is easily treatable and there are many
drugs on the market that will help you lower it.
The problem is, all of these drugs have negative side effects. Some are mere inconveniences while
others are life threatening conditions themselves. Here are some examples of the side effects
associated with some of the blood pressure medications out there:
-Dizziness
-Insomnia
-Leg cramps
-Diarrhea
-Joint pain
And these are only some of the common, "less serious" side effects. There are even
more serious side effects possible, like kidney damage and for you men out there, erectile dysfunction.
You can lower your blood pressure naturally, without the use of expensive drugs with unwanted
side effects. Things like diet changes and exercise can drastically help in preventing and reducing
high blood pressure.
One of the most beneficial diet changes you can make when trying to reduce your blood pressure
is to cut down on the amount of salt you eat. The obvious solution is to stop adding salt to food
during preparation or after the fact. Trust me, after awhile you won't even miss it. In fact, you'll
probably start to notice how disgustingly salty some food really is.
Also, Processed foods are absolutely awful when it comes to sodium content. Frozen pizzas,
canned soups, salad dressings and those incredibly quick and easy "meal in a bag" type foods
are all loaded with sodium. Just check the nutritional information on the package and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Another great way to reduce your blood pressure is through exercise. Even something as
simple and easy as a 30-minute brisk walk each day will have the desired effect. This could be
completed during your lunch break or first thing in the morning or in the evening when you're taking
your dog for a walk (and your dog will love the extra exercise too!). I don't think I know a single
person who doesn't have the time each day for a 30 minute walk.
These are just two examples of ways you can get lower your blood pressure naturally. Follow these 2 tips and you'll be on your way to taking control of your blood pressure and your health!
