Take Charge of Your High Blood Pressure Today

Most of us have heard of high blood pressure and may even have it. But for many, knowing what blood pressure actually is mystifies us.

What the hell is blood pressure anyway?

Blood pressure, according to the CDC is “the force of blood against your artery walls as it circulates through your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can cause health problems if it stays high for a long time”.

Blood pressure can also lead to numerous other very serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke.

I can testify most people don’t want to have a heart attack or a stroke.

Yet as many as 75 million Americans now suffer knowingly or unknowingly with the disease.

And as of 2011, as much as $46 Billion (that’s with a “B”) in healthcare costs was attributed to high blood pressure.

Without doubt not only can it be deadly it can also be quite costly.

So let’s talk about the symptoms.

High blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer”. I know, sounds like a terrifying horror movie.

And it can be a horror if you don’t pay attention to it. High blood pressure most often has no symptoms.

You could be walking around enjoying your day. Going back to work, say, after having a nice lunch with a colleague.

And then bam!

You collapse grasping at your chest, trying to catch air.

Hello heart attack.

I’m not making light of it – this is serious stuff. And if you want a nice, long, quality life, you’ll pay attention to your blood pressure.

How do you do that?

Have a full check-up twice a year or at the very least once a year. A blood pressure is standard procedure at any doctor or clinic visit.

Also, invest in a blood pressure machine which you can purchase at any chain drugstore.

With the nifty, handy, little blood pressure machine you can track your blood pressure daily without having to wait for your check up.

What to do if you have high blood pressure and how do you keep from getting it?

High blood pressure has no preferences. It doesn’t care what race, nationality, religion, or income bracket you’re in.

It is an equal opportunity killer.

So if you have it or you want to make sure you as well as your family does not get it, the same prescription applies.

• Eat better. Now I know how difficult it is to do a complete overhaul of a lifetime of bad habits but small, steady, consistent changes is the key. What does that mean? Cut back one glass of alcohol a week. Add a vegetable salad a few days a week with just olive oil and vinegar for dressing. Eat an antioxidant a day like blueberries or raspberries.
• Do not smoke. Now I know for most this is a huge hill to climb but believe me, if you want to control or prevent high blood pressure, this will be key and it will be life changing. There are now so many ways to help you with stopping from patches, to gum, to hypnosis to meditation. It won’t be easy but it can be done. I have three family members who smoked for years and have now been smoke free for at least a decade.
• Exercise. Yes, yes I said it. The dreaded word to so many (you know who you are). I’m not talking about spending hours at a gym on a treadmill. Simple things like a thirty minute walk 3-5 days a week, a yoga class three times a week, or a round of tennis a few days a week. Something that gets the heart rate up and gets the body to sweat, or for us ladies, “sparkle”.

Try these tips and remember it’s a process – a marathon not a sprint.

Until next time,

Blessings