Best Ways to Regulate High Blood Pressure

When it comes to managing your blood pressure, having a significant impact can seem difficult or nearly impossible. High blood pressure increases your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. With enough occurrences, it can be deadly later in life. That’s why it’s important to know how to lower your high blood pressure to avoid future attacks. 

How to Lower High Blood Pressure

The first option for lowering high blood pressure is to take prescribed medication from your doctor. Sometimes, making a big lifestyle change is hard to adjust to. If taking your medication is the best option for you, then keep taking it. However, if you prefer a more natural method, try dieting and exercising. Lowering your sodium intake and getting active are great ways to regulate your blood pressure. Eating processed foods or foods with a lot of sugar and salt will bring up your numbers. A diet high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables is a great way to combat this. Exercising also strengthens your heart and keeps your blood pumping at healthy rates. 

Consistently being stressed can increase your blood pressure and risk for other deadly conditions. If you are constantly in an environment where you’re stressed out, take a break and calm yourself. Remove yourself from that stressful environment or set realistic goals for yourself so that you’re not consistently in fight-or-flight mode. Even if you need to remove yourself from certain people or situations, it’s important that you do what’s best for your health. The more that you are able to manage your stress, the more you’re able to regulate it. 

Another treatment for high blood pressure is to take vitamins and supplements. Vitamin C is a great way to protect your blood vessels and is a natural antioxidant. Eating potassium-rich foods can lower your blood pressure because it gets rid of sodium in your urine. Foods like tuna, yogurt, sweet potatoes and bananas are rich in potassium and some of the best ways to ease some of the stress on your blood vessels. 

Additionally, cutting back on caffeine can help with blood pressure. Drinking a lot of coffee instantly boosts your blood pressure, so try drinking decaffeinated coffee or tea to see if it helps. Getting plenty of rest at night can decrease your blood pressure. When you go to sleep, your blood pressure goes down. But, if you’re not getting enough rest, it will stay high and could affect how stressed you are and how you control it. These two options might seem small, but they can make a big difference in how you handle your blood pressure. 

Smoking leads to a number of diseases and can even increase your blood pressure. Smoking increases your risk for heart disease and can damage your blood vessels. Every time you smoke, your blood pressure increases and this can be harmful to your body. Quitting is the best thing that you can do for your blood pressure. Additionally, losing weight can also help regulate your blood pressure. Every ten pounds that you lose, your blood pressure lowers significantly. Weight loss can also help prevent other health issues, like sleep apnea. 

High blood pressure doesn’t have to control your life. With the right steps and routines, you can decrease your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Regulating your blood pressure can be the best way to prolong your life. At BASS Medical Group, our staff is willing to provide the best options and treatment to help lower your blood pressure. Visit our website or call us at (925) 350-4044.