According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure affects almost half of the U.S. adult population. Failing to manage this condition can lead to other serious health concerns, from kidney damage to stroke.
Since high blood pressure is often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, your habits are also where the solution to managing it naturally lies. Here are three tips for reducing your blood pressure effectively.
Get Fit
Obesity is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. Losing excess weight is thus one of the best ways to manage your blood pressure. Your waistline is of particular concern; its size shouldn’t exceed 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women.
Weight loss is a complex matter, but regular exercise should be an integral part of it. Moving can prevent elevated high pressure from further increasing and help high blood pressure to decrease to a safer level.
Quit Unhealthy Habits
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption both increase blood pressure. Simply quitting these harmful habits will not only help you control this condition, but it also comes with countless other health benefits.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet goes hand-in-hand with losing excess weight, but it’s also important for healthy blood pressure for other reasons. Watch your saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake. Generally, you shouldn’t consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily, but 1,500 milligrams is even more ideal. Potassium-rich produce will further help minimize the harmful effects of sodium.
Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your blood pressure. Approaching the solution naturally before medication becomes necessary is always a good idea.
