Ways to Lower Blood Pressure After Eating a Salty Meal

Ways to Lower Blood Pressure After Eating a Salty Meal
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High blood pressure is associated with many complications, including heart failure or heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss and thinking difficulty, states MayoClinic.com. Therefore, controlling blood pressure is important in healthy living. However, there are times you may sway from your strict dietary regimen and eat salty foods, which can increase blood pressure. In this case there are steps you can take to reduce your blood pressure.

Take Medications

Take your medications to lower your blood pressure after eating salty foods. Salt increases your blood pressure because it pulls water from your tissues into your bloodstream, which results in high blood pressure. Certain medications, such as diuretics, removes excessive fluid from your bloodstream, resulting in a lower blood pressure, states Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health. Therefore, take your medications as prescribed to lower your blood pressure after eating salty foods.

Relax

MayoClinic.com states that you may take deep breaths and teach yourself to relax to lower your blood pressure. Relaxation promotes the widening, or dilation, of your blood vessels, which decreases your blood pressure. Do not become stressed that you ate too much salt. This will only further increase your blood pressure.

Walk

Go for a light walk to reduce your blood pressure after eating salty foods. Regular exercise, of at least 30 minutes per day, will reduce your blood pressure over time. In addition, slow paced walk after exercise will cause your blood vessels to dilate and lower your blood pressure. Be sure to walk at a slow pace because fast-paced walking may increase your blood pressure.

References

Article reviewed by Allen Cone Last updated on: Dec 11, 2010

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