Treating High Blood Pressure Yourself
High blood pressure is a condition feared by many people. It involves the elevation in the pressure of the arteries of the body—both with the beat of the heart and when the heart is at rest. A normal blood pressure is about 120 systolic and 80 diastolic. These represent the pressure in the body’s arteries when the heart takes a beat (systolic blood pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic blood pressure).
Most people find out they have high blood pressure during a routine test at the doctor’s office but some can make this determination at blood pressure stations at the drug store or at a health fair. The natural response is to follow the doctor’s recommendation and to being taking one of a number of medications for high blood pressure.
These medications usually work to reduce the blood pressure but are not without side effects and the problem of high cost. What some people want is to manage their blood pressure naturally in behavioral ways that can reduce the blood pressure without pills.
It should be noted that extremely high blood pressure carries the risk of stroke and heart disease and should not be messed with. Treating your own high blood pressure naturally should be done under a doctor’s guidance and supervision.
You can begin reducing your high blood pressure by meticulously reducing the amount of sodium in your diet. Sodium or “salt” carries the risk of elevating one’s blood pressure. In order to best manage the sodium content in the diet, one must begin by carefully noting the sodium content of all prepackaged items you buy at the store and avoid those with high sodium contents. There are some things that are infused with sodium by the manufacturer, including things like soups, which could have 1000 mg or one gram of sodium per serving size. Most doctors who treat high blood pressure or “hypertension” recommend a 2 gram sodium diet or the taking in of only 2 grams of sodium in an entire day.
The truth of the matter is that many pre-packaged or processed foods are high in sodium—even the ones that don’t taste very salty. If you still need to buy pre-packaged items, you need to do so with lots of label watching.
Exercise reduces high blood pressure. Exercise can be intense but most people will see reductions in their blood pressure with a program of walking. Walk at least half an hour at a moderately brisk pace three to four times a week and you’ll see nice reductions in your resting blood pressure.
Corporate Social Responsibility
MHC Supports Goducate (NPO)
Helping Needy Asians Help Themselves!
