3 Tips For Reducing High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is a common chronic disease that may not be diagnosed until your blood pressure has been elevated for many years or you experience a medical emergency. Once you have been diagnosed with hypertension, you should work to maintain better blood pressure control.
Take Your Medication Consistently
If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, your doctor has likely prescribed you a medication, such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and/or beta blockers. Often when blood pressure is high, but has not reached critical levels, many people do not take their medications consistently because they feel fine. Hypertension is often regarded as a silent killer because it rarely causes symptoms. When symptoms occur, your blood pressure may be high enough to induce a catastrophic vascular event, such as a stroke.
Taking your medication regularly is the fastest way to reduce your blood pressure to a healthy number. Side effects from medication might also make you skip doses. If you take a diuretic, which is often combined with other hypertension medications, frequent urination is common. This usually subsides when taken regularly, because your body becomes adjusted. Some people experience a chronic, dry cough with ACE inhibitors, this can be fixed by switching to a different class of medications.
Work On Mental Health
Your mental health can have a drastic impact on your blood pressure and make it harder to reduce or control your blood pressure. Chronic anxiety and dealing with stress are common problems with adverse effects on your cardiovascular health. Do not be afraid to ask for a referral to a mental health professional, whether you feel like you need long-term treatment for anxiety or simply need to talk. Additionally, learning positive coping mechanisms to deal with all aspects of mental health and stress can also help. This might include regular exercise to reduce irritability or other negative feelings. You might consider joining a support group or engaging in activities, such as art or music.
Shed Extra Pounds
Although some people have a genetic predisposition for developing hypertension, most people with hypertension find that losing weight either eliminates their need for medication or drastically reduces the dose they take. Making slow, consistent changes toward losing weight should be part of your blood pressure reduction strategy. Simple dietary changes can make a difference. You should follow a low-sodium diet and try experimenting with different herbs and seasonings. Following a diet that is closer to a whole-food diet and less reliant on convenience food or restaurants can also help. This helps you consume more nutrient-dense foods and have more control over salt intake and macronutrients.
Whether hypertension is directly related to poor lifestyle choices or part of your genetics, there are ways to manage the condition. Keeping your blood pressure at a safe level can reduce your risk of serious vascular events.
For more information, contact a doctor walk in clinic.