If you discover that you have high blood pressure, it is important to make changes in your life immediately. Doctors call this condition hypertension. It can lead to heart attack, stroke and a number of other potentially fatal ailments.
Reduce Salt Intake
Most Americans eat far too much salt but don't realize it. Salt is hidden in most things we eat. Even things like bread and soft drinks have salt in them. The sodium in salt is directly linked to a rise blood pressure. Doctors advise consuming no more than one teaspoon of salt per day. This includes the salt hidden in all your food. Do not add salt to food at the dining table and reduce what you use when cooking. Avoid high-sodium foods like chips, canned soup and fast food.
Eat Better
A well-balanced diet will lower your blood pressure quickly. Start by eating fewer high-fat foods like red meat and deep-fried dishes. Also avoid food loaded with sugar like desserts and soft drinks. Increase your consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and lean protein from fish and poultry. You must simultaneously eat less of the bad foods while eating more of the good foods for this to work.
Smoking and Drinking
Smoking and drinking both dramatically contribute to complications with high blood pressure. Smoking damages the walls of blood vessels, leading to hardening of the arteries. You should quit immediately. Woman should consume no more than one drink per day, while men should have no more than two per day.
Exercise
The more fat you carry around, the harder your heart has to work. This increases your blood pressure, especially when you exert yourself. Regular exercise contributes to a healthy weight and strong heart. It also gets your body used to a healthy flow of blood through your arteries and veins. This lowers your blood pressure. Get some kind of physical exercise at least three times per week. This can be as simple as walking briskly for a half hour. Work your way up to exercising daily.
Reduce Stress
When people are under stress, their blood pressure rises. Doing this as little as possible will improve your health. Try to get a good night's sleep every night, do things that you enjoy, talk about your problems with someone who cares and avoid stressful situations. While reducing stress alone will not lower your blood pressure, it will keep it from rising and complicating your high blood pressure.
Medication
If hypertension rises to dangerous levels, doctors prescribe medication. Discuss this with your doctor. She will tell you to do all the things mentioned above in addition to taking your medication. Follow dosage instructions carefully. Hypertension medication is only helpful when taken correctly. It can be dangerous if taken incorrectly.
