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You should have your blood pressure tested at least every 2 years because
high blood pressure can lead to problems such as damaging your blood
vessels. High blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease, heart
attack, developing kidney failure, and stroke. Having your blood pressure
checked takes only a few minutes and should there be a problem your doctor
can treat it and recommend changes to your lifestyle that you should follow.
Here are some simple tips for making changes in your lifestyle to keep your
blood pressure within a normal range.
Stop smoking:
If you smoke then you should try to quit, when you inhale the smoke from
cigarettes and other tobacco products, your blood vessels become restricted
and you will have a faster heartbeat. If your heart beats faster than this
causes a temporary rise in your blood pressure, by quitting smoking you not
only help to lower your blood pressure but also reduce the risk of heart
disease and heart attack.
Lose weight:
Losing weight and getting enough exercise can help towards keeping your
blood pressure down. If you are carrying too much weight around your heart
will have to work harder and faster and this can cause your blood pressure to
rise which increases your chances of developing heart disease and stroke.
Limit your alcohol intake
Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink is also important, in some people,
alcohol raises their blood pressure by a lot, while in others it doesn’t seem to
affect as much. You should drink no more than 1 glass of wine per day or one
can of beer and if your blood pressure does rise through drinking, then you
should quit drinking altogether.
Avoid excessive sodium:
Some people can be affected by sodium and it causes their blood pressure to
rise. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure then it is important
to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. You shouldn’t add extra salt to
your food and always check food labels for the amount of sodium foods
contain.
Lower stress levels:
If you live a very stressful life and easily become stressed then this can cause
your blood pressure to rise, it is important to learn ways of dealing with stress
and not let it build up. There are many self-help techniques that you can learn
to help you combat stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises,
yoga, and visualization.
Blood pressure medication:
If your doctor has diagnosed you as having high blood pressure then along
with making changes to your lifestyle - the most effective way of dealing with it
- they might also prescribe medication. There are many different types of
medication used in the treatment of high blood pressure. In some cases, if
your condition can only be controlled by medication, then it could mean that
you have to take medication for the rest of your life to help keep your blood
pressure under control. However, the earlier you start making changes to your
lifestyle towards leading a healthier life, through stopping smoking, getting
enough exercise and eating healthy, the better your chances that you won’t
need to be on medication for life.
