High blood pressure?

Question

Any natural ways to lower blood pressure?I am 40 and it just started about 4 months ago and keeps creeping up.

Answer 1

I have had HBP since I was 21 and to be honest with you the best natural ways to lower it are: low sodium diet, portion control during meals, water intake, and exercising 30 minutes at least three times a week. If you don't control it naturally make sure youre taking a good pill to counter the HBP (ie Maxide or Atenolol). Best wishes!

Answer 2

I also have high blood pressure. Here's what my doctor told me:

(1) Cut your sodium intake. High sodium doesn't CAUSE high blood pressure, but if you have high blood pressure it can and usually does aggravate it.

(2) Do some type of aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day 3 times a week, and walk as long as you want as often as you like.

(3) Lower your stress. Avoid anything that aggravates you as much as possible and be sure to engage in hobbies that you find enjoyable and relaxing. Meditation, yoga, and martial arts are all good stress outlets (so is sex, by the way).

(4) Don't eat big meals. Overeating raises your blood pressure. You're better off eating small meals or snacks every three hours or so than you are eating three square meals per day.

(5) If you're overweight, lose weight. Being 15 pounds overweight can be enough to push your blood pressure into the warning or danger zones.

(6) Make sure you get enough sleep -- six to eight hours, depending on the person -- and make sure you get a good night's sleep on a regular basis. Insomnia and sleep apnea are both shown to increase blood pressure, so if you have sleep problems talk to your doctor.

(7) Some natural supplements you can take that may help you get that blood pressure down are Valerian Root (with or without hops) and Holy Basil Extract. You can get both at Vitamin World.

Good luck!

Answer 3

1.) Stop eating fried foods and foods high in sodium content, and even high in sugar content. This especially includes snacks. So, no potato chips, Doritos, Fritos, microwave popcorn, etc. If you need popcorn, get a hot-air popper and buy just the kernels and pop them that way. Eat the popcorn plain, with no salt or butter.

2.) Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially with red meat. I always eat a garden salad whenever I have a steak or hamburger. In addition, substitute multigrain bread for your toast instead of using ordinary plain white "Wonder Bread".

3.) Lose weight if you are overweight. You don't have to go overboard and be supermodel anorexic thin, but having a "beer gut" is not a good idea either.

4.) Drink 2 or 3 cups of green tea daily, as green tea helps to regulate weight, blood pressure, and even cholesterol in some instances.

5.) Some high blood pressure is stress related, especially with regards to events at work. Reserve 30 minutes a day at home for 'alone-time' where you listen to soft relaxing music to "cool down".

6.) Exercise on a regular basis. 20 to 30 minutes per day will help tremendously. If you work in a multifloor building, instead of taking the elevator, walk up and down the stairs throughout the day, if it's only several flights. If you need to go more than 4 flights, say, take the elevator and stop several flights below or above your destination and walk the final two flights on the stairs. After about a month, you'll work up the stamina to be able to traverse as much as 4 or 5 flights without breathing heavily.

I do all of this, and my blood pressure has, 98% of the time, been around 117/78. I am 37 years old.

Answer 4

Blood pressure measurements don't count for anything if you've been walking around. Ideally, you should be sitting down for at least 5 minutes or so. Blood pressure also can vary during the day, so it's best to get measurements from similar times during the day. No caffeine in the morning either. These measurements should be repeated on a few separate occasions. Some people get "white coat hypertension" when they go to the doctor's office because they are nervous. Probably blood pressure medicines wouldn't kill you. But you don't necessarily need blood pressure medicines if your blood pressure is only high while active. When doctors study the effects of high blood pressure, they study the effects of people who are diagnosed with it as described above. You are probably at no higher cardiac risk from your blood pressure.

Answer 5

Most people, especially those with clinical conditions, reduce their blood pressure significantly after adhering to an exercise program for even a few weeks. The blood vessels make compensatory adjustments to handle the increased workload because of the exercise they get regularly. Almost all of the body systems do so in response to increased adaptive stress. Once again, this is called the training effect.

Years ago, treatment for high blood pressure was “rest and relaxation.” But recent reports, like the Surgeon General’s Report, suggest that regular exercise can be an effective means of reducing high blood pressure.

I consider myself as a healthcare provider working as a personal fitness trainer and enjoy helping people like you every day. :)

Here are basic recommendations that you can start with.

Food as Fuel:

Going without breakfast because you planning a big dinner is as silly as filling up your car's gas tank after you finish the trip. Eat all of the foods that are good for you; all of the grains, vegetables, fruites and lean proteins that you enjoy. Eat 6 small meals a day. Eating smaller meals more often will help to speed up your metabolism. Missing meals slow your metabolism. Also chew your food at least 30-40 times every time you take a bite. This will slow down your meal time and it easier to digest your food.

Hunger can stress the body and trigger the release of cotisol, a hormone that encourages the storage of fat in the abdomen. To keep hunger under control, split your meals and snacks into 5 or 6 minimeals.

Water - Drink TONS of water!

If you add 2-3 liters of water to you diet you will feel better - PROMISE. You will have to use the restroom often, BUT you will feel less bloated, and retain less water IF you add water to your diet. Men who are overweight should add up to galon of water a day. Sip throgh out the day for best result.

Your Body Needs Daily Exercise.

The only way to be fit is to exercise on the regular basis: daily if possible. Some benefits of daily exercise are: you don't get sick as often, you have more energy and you sleep better. Exercise doesn't have to be structured.
If it is something you enjoy doing, you'll look forward to it. Walking or riding a bike with your friends is fun. Even though it may only be a couple of miles, it is something.
If you aren't looking forward to your next workout, do something else. Walking is probably one of the best fat burning exercises you can do - just walk more!

Start weight lifting program. If you are absolutely unexperience in it you can ask a personal fitness trainer at the gym for a free orientation.

Have Realistic Expectations

I promise you will feel better, get more fit and reach a higher level of satisfaction by starting slowly and expecting moderate weight and measurement changes.
Think within longer time frames, and a pound or two on a scale won't seam so important.

Cross-Training

Every few weeks plan a change in your routine. Note only will your mind be more challenged, your body will have to adapt and the body will benefit from the new stimuli. The body is an amazing adaptable machine. It will begin to burn less fat as an energy source for the same activity if you don't change your programe regularly.

Get 7 to 8 hours of shut-eye a night

Chronic sleep deprivation can raise cortisol levels. It can also drive down levels of the appetite-control hormone leptin, making you feel hungry.

Laugh more

Here's a tactic anyone can stick with! In a study conducted at Loma Linda University, men and women who watched a humorous video had 30% less cortisol in their blood not only while watching the tape but also up to 24 hours later.

Answer 6

Firstly you need to look at your life and try and work out why your blood pressure is creeping up. You need to deal with that issue. Talk to your doctor they will only put you on meds if there is no other way to control it. Look at diet too.

Answer 7

Yes mam. Eat plenty on potassium and magnesium.Potassium slows the heart rate and drop the blood pressure.Avoid salty foods. Don't avoid all your salt,because it can lead to problems as well.Don't add salt,foods have salt in it.Drink water,relax more than usual.Eat like 3 bananas a day,you will see.

Answer 8

Hi

I try to do everything naturally. Yeck I even make my dogs' food. However I would seriously urge you to get some medication for the high blood pressure.

Eating foods rich in potasium such as, berries, bannans, prunes, avacado will help.

High blood pressure is known as the silent killer. Please take care of yourself.

Answer 9

If you watch your salt intake (even though we do need a certain amount of salt we only need 2300 milligrams per day...that is 1tsp!), not smoke, and excercise, there may not be anything more than seek medication to help. You would be AMAZED at the amount of salt we normally consume through processed foods. Keep a log. Good luck!!

Answer 10

Exercise for weight control, reducing the salt and fat content of your foods are two very good ways to control and reduce your blood pressure.