How to Lower High Blood Pressure and Live a Healthier Lifestyle
The word "hypertension" should be an apparent indication as to why it is another name for high blood pressure. Essentially, your heart pumps blood through your arteries and when it flows at a higher pressure than the norm, the result is hypertension. With this condition, your doctor will provide some information on how to lower high blood pressure and live a healthier life.
What the Readings Mean
First of all, before getting into how to lower high blood pressure, do you have a clue what a high reading would be? A normal reading is 120/80 mm HG or lower while a high blood pressure is 140/90 mm HG or higher. The in-between stage of 121/81 to 139/89 mm HG is known as pre-hypertension and basically a wake-up call to get busy changing your lifestyle. Pre-hypertension and full blown hypertension is just cause to follow the doctor's orders on how to lower high blood pressure.
Unless your high blood pressure is in the stratosphere, your doctor will likely recommend a number of lifestyle changes first to answer that question of how to lower high blood pressure before prescribing medication. You definitely want to go for the lifestyle changes because once you start medication, you will have to take it for the rest of your life.
Changes to Make
How to lower high blood pressure starts with losing weight which means for you a total diet revamp from tossing fatty, processed foods to increasing your intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. Lean meats and fish along with low-fat dairy products should be included in your new diet along with a reduction of salt, another no-no when it comes to high blood pressure.
Quitting smoking and drinking are two other answers on how to lower high blood pressure as these two habits are big contributors to hypertension. While an occasional beer or glass of liquor is ok, you should practice moderation and stop the excessive behaviors. However, one glass of red wine every so often has been touted as being heart healthy and could be your alcoholic indulgence.
Exercising is essential for good heart health and therefore is an important step on how to lower high blood pressure. If you are sedentary, start small when re-introducing physical activity to your life and work your way up in time and intensity. You want to lower your blood pressure readings and avoid lifelong medication not incite a heart attack before you make positive strides in your health!
Finally, lowering your stress levels is yet another avenue to travel in terms of how to lower high blood pressure. Exercise is a great stress reliever as is massage, acupuncture and even biofeedback techniques. All the advice for lowering your blood pressure readings is common sense but that has never been the problem, but rather the gumption, to actually do it!
