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What Can You Do To Get Your Blood Pressure Down

Seek Help For Snoring

How To Get Your Blood Pressure Down

Loud, incessant snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea , a disorder that causes brief but dangerous breathing interruptions. Up to half of sleep apnea patients also live with hypertension, possibly due to high levels of aldosterone, a hormone that can boost blood pressure. Fixing sleep apnea could be helpful for improving BP, says Robert Greenfield, M.D., medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology & Cardiac Rehabilitation at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute.

Eat More Potassium And Less Sodium

Increasing your potassium intake and cutting back on salt can also lower your blood pressure .

Potassium is a double winner: It lessens the effects of salt in your system and eases tension in your blood vessels. However, diets rich in potassium may be harmful to people with kidney disease, so talk with your doctor before increasing your potassium intake.

Its easy to eat more potassium. So many foods are naturally high in potassium. Here are a few:

  • chips
  • other processed snacks

Foods labeled low fat are usually high in salt and sugar to compensate for the loss of fat. Fat is what gives food taste and makes you feel full.

Cutting down on or even better, cutting out processed food will help you eat less salt, less sugar, and fewer refined carbohydrates. All of this can result in lower blood pressure.

Make it a practice to check nutrition labels. According to the Food and Drug Administration , a sodium listing of 5 percent or less on a food label is considered low, while 20 percent or more is considered high (

Whos Currently At High Risk For Serious Illness

According to the CDC, the

You may have read about concerns for two of these drugs, ACE inhibitors and ARBs, and COVID-19 risk. These concerns stem from the fact that these drugs may increase the amount of ACE2 in your body. ACE2 is the receptor that the new coronavirus binds to.

Because of this, several studies have focused on these drug types and COVID-19 risk. So far it appears as if theres little evidence to support the concerns related to ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and COVID-19.

Lets look at the findings so far:

  • A study of more than 18,000 people with confirmed COVID-19 that was published in JAMA Cardiology found that there was no association between taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs and having a positive COVID-19 test.
  • Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ACE inhibitors and ARBs werent associated with the risk of getting COVID-19 or having severe COVID-19 illness.
  • A study of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 that was recently published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that ACE inhibitors and ARBs may actually improve outcomes when continued during hospitalization.

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Try Meditation Or Deep Breathing

While these two behaviors could also fall under stress reduction techniques, meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention.

Both meditation and deep breathing may activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate, and lowering blood pressure.

Theres quite a bit of research in this area, with studies showing that different styles of meditation appear to have benefits for lowering blood pressure .

Deep breathing techniques can also be quite effective.

In one study, participants were asked to either take six deep breaths over the course of 30 seconds or simply sit still for 30 seconds. Those who took breaths lowered their blood pressure more than those who just sat .

Try guided meditation or deep breathing. Heres a video to get you started.

Bottom line: Both meditation and deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Get In A Quiet Room And Calm Yourself Down

What

If you are in a crowded place, shelter yourself in a quiet room immediately.

The undertone is to get away from the crowd. High BP triggers anxiety and breathlessness which needs isolation.

However, its advisable to keep a friend around just in case the situation goes out of hand.

But it is important to get away from the crowd and focus on yourself to get a hold of yourself.

Erratic heartbeat, ragged breathing, and flashes of warmth are signs of hypertension. Therefore, these are the signs you should look out for!

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Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure

Most doctors will only consider chronically low blood pressure as dangerous if it causes noticeable signs and symptoms, such as:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Dehydration and unusual thirst
  • Dehydration can sometimes cause blood pressure to drop. However, dehydration does not always cause low blood pressure. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can all lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition in which your body loses more water than you take in. Even mild dehydration can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
  • Lack of concentration
  • Depression

When Your Patients Blood Pressure Wont Come Down

J Fam Pract

David Feldman, MD, PhDMinnesota Heart Institute-Cardiology, Minneapolis

Dr. Wexler has received grant/research support from the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, CVRx, Inc., the National Institutes of Health , and Pfizer. He serves as a consultant to CardioMEMS Data Safety Monitoring Board.

Dr. Feldman receives research funding from Medtronic, Inc. and NIH, is a consultant for GlaxoSmithKline , and is on the speakers bureau of GSK, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis. Drs. Taylor and Pleister reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.

Is your patients persistent hypertension really resistant to treatment, or are other factors at work? Consider these 2 cases and let this algorithm help you decide.

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High Blood Pressure Treatment

The best way to lower blood pressure begins with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower your blood pressure. These are called antihypertensive medicines.

The goal of treatment is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels. Your doctor may prescribe medicine thats easy to take and has few, if any, side effects. This treatment is highly successful. If your blood pressure can only be controlled with medicine, youll need to take the medicine for the rest of your life. It is common to need more than one medicine to help control your blood pressure. Dont stop taking the medicine without talking with your doctor. Otherwise, you may increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Journal Of The American College Of Nutrition

How To TELL Your High Blood Pressure to go Down

United States Department of Agriculture scientists discovered eating wild blueberries can help prevent oxidative stress. Remember, oxidative stress can trigger many serious health problems including hardening of the arteries and heart failure! Wild blueberries contain powerful antioxidants that combat free radical damage that cause oxidative stress!

Blueberries also contain polyphenols to fight inflammation that can weaken and even seriously damage your blood vesselsand lead to a serious heart or brain problem!

But James Joseph, Ph.D., from the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging reported in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience that polyphenols found in blueberries can improve brain function, enhance memory recall and douse the flames of inflammation!

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How To Lower Blood Pressure Quickly And Naturally

When someone has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, it means their blood is pumping with too much force against the artery walls. The condition can eventually lead to heart disease, stroke, or other cardiac conditions. High blood pressure is extremely common in the United States. More than 103 million people in the country have itand many dont even know theirs is too high, because it can be asymptomatic, says John Osborne, MD, director of cardiology at LowT Center/HerKare and a volunteer for the American Heart Association .

The reason many people dont know? There are often few or no symptoms associated with high blood pressure, says Sondra DePalma, a cardiac physician assistant at PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute with UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which is why it is called the silent killer.

If youre wondering how to lower blood pressure, luckily, there are natural ways to do so with the proper diet and healthy lifestyle changes.

Eat More Foods High In Magnesium

A small study in the International Journal of Hypertension found magnesium supplementation can reduce blood pressure in small amountsNguyen H, Odelola OA, Rangaswami J, Amanullah A. A Review of Nutritional Factors in Hypertension Management. International Journal of Hypertension. 2013 698940. . Talk to your doctor before taking magnesium supplements, especially if you have kidney disease. You can also safely incorporate high-magnesium foods into your diet. Dr. Desai recommends foods like leafy green vegetables and unsalted almonds.

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Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure

1. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. You will need to maintain a body mass index between 18.5-24.9 kg/m2.

2. Reduce central obesity

Having excess fat around the waistline puts you at risk of hypertension and related heart disease. You can reduce the fat around your middle through various exercises, including jogging, walking, hiking, rowing, swimming and high-intensity interval training .

3. Stay physically active

The American Heart Association recommends doing 90-150 minutes of physical activity spread throughout the week or at least 30 minutes each day for at least 5 days a week.

4. Quit smoking

Smoking causes the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels that leads to high blood pressure. Try to quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Ask your doctor if you need help figuring out the best way to do this. Joining a program designed to help you quit smoking may help.

5. Get enough sleep

Lack of sleep increases your chances of developing health conditions that cause high blood pressure. Try to get between 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night.

6. Manage stress

Stress releases hormones that temporarily raise blood pressure. Learn to manage stress by doing activities that relax you and make you feel good. These may include simple things like taking a long walk in nature, listening to music, or pursuing hobbies you enjoy. You can also try deep breathing and meditation techniques.

7. Eat heart-healthy foods

Consider Cutting Back On Caffeine

How I Lowered My Blood Pressure 20 Points in 2 Days ...

Caffeine raises your blood pressure, but the effect is temporary.

In a 2017 study, the systolic blood pressure of 18 participants was elevated for 2 hours after they drank 32 ounces of either a caffeinated drink or an energy drink. Blood pressure then dropped more quickly for the participants who drank a caffeinated drink .

Some people may be more sensitive to caffeine than others. If youre caffeine-sensitive, you may want to cut back on your coffee consumption, or try .

Research on caffeine, including its health benefits, is in the news a lot. The choice of whether to cut back depends on many individual factors.

One older study indicated that caffeines effect on raising blood pressure is greater if your blood pressure is already high. This same study, however, called for more research on the subject .

If your blood pressure is very high or doesnt decrease after making these lifestyle changes, your doctor may recommend prescription drugs.

They work and will improve your long-term outcome, especially if you have other risk factors (

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Indulge In Dark Chocolate

The sweet is rich in flavanols, which relax blood vessels and boost blood flow, and research suggests that regular dark chocolate consumption could lower your blood pressure. Experts havent determined an ideal percentage of cocoa, says Vivian Mo, M.D., clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Southern California, but the higher you go, the more benefits youll get. Chocolate cant be your main strategy for managing blood pressure, Mo saysbut when youre craving a treat, its a healthy choice.

Is Your Weight Causing Your Blood Pressure To Shoot Through The Roof Find Out Now

Take your height over 5 feet in inches, multiply by five.

Add 110 if you’re a woman or 120 if you’re a man.

That’s your weight goal to help keep your blood pressure in the normal range!

You can fudge the numbers about 5% to 7%.

If you achieve the weight described by this formula, you shouldn’t have high blood pressure from being overweight.

Let’s take an example: Ralph is 5′ 7″that’s 67 inches.

Seven times five is 35, add 120 and you get 155 pounds as Ralph’s desired weight.

Now, if Marsha is 5′ 7″, her desired weight is 145.

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Try These Medicinal Herbs

Herbal medicines have long been used in many cultures to treat a variety of ailments.

Some herbs have even been shown to possibly lower blood pressure. However, more research is needed to identify the doses and components in the herbs that are most useful.

Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking herbal supplements. They may interfere with your prescription medications.

Heres a partial list of plants and herbs that are used by cultures throughout the world to lower blood pressure:

  • black bean
  • river lily
  • Avoid daytime naps.
  • Make your bedroom comfortable.

The 2010 national Sleep Heart Health Study found that regularly sleeping fewer than 7 hours a night and more than 9 hours a night was associated with an increased rate of high blood pressure.

Regularly sleeping fewer than 5 hours a night was linked to a significant risk of high blood pressure long term .

What Is High Blood Pressure

How To Bring Your Blood Pressure Down Immediately

High blood pressure or hypertension is the silent killer that affects 80 million Americans. As many as 16 million Americans are unaware of the condition. Untreated hypertension can increase the risk of heart diseases or strokes. High blood pressure occurs due to the tightening of very small blood vessels called arterioles. As a result, the heart has to pump harder to overcome the resistance in the narrowed blood vessel bed. This leads to elevated pressure inside the vessels.

  • High blood pressure or hypertension is when readings consistently range from 140 or higher for systolic or 90 or higher for diastolic.
  • Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are dangerously high and require immediate medical attention.

High blood pressure is more likely to cause

  • heart attack

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Take Help From Family And Friends

It is advised to seek help from family, friends, and neighbors in case of uneasiness.

Visiting a crowded function increases the risk of hypertension by almost 52%.

Wondering how to quickly lower blood pressure in minutes?

One way is to be careful about your surroundings. If visiting someplace which might trigger anxiety, go with a family member.

That way, even if you feel mild discomfort, youll have someone by your side. It is good to have a known face around the time of crisis.

Remember hypertension is a product of irregular lifestyle and stress. If you have a close friend around, you might feel less anxious already.

How To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

The term lifestyle changes implies you will need to change your habits to bring your blood pressure down. Broadly speaking, these modifications are natural non-pharmaceutical ways of lowering blood pressure. Six methods have been proven effective in clinical studies, and two others are recommended:

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Promote Healthy Cholesterol Too

Scientists at the University of California at Davis report blueberries can also reduce the build up of “bad” LDL cholesterol that contributes to cardiovascular problems.

Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported results of an animal study showing blueberries were more effective in lowering cholesterol levels than the cholesterol medication, Ciprofibrater. Here’s the proof…

All the hamsters in the study were fed a high-cholesterol diet. One group received blueberry skins and the other group received the drug. The results?

The drug group lowered their cholesterol levels by 17%. Not bad. But the blueberry group lowered their cholesterol levels by an astounding 37%! Much betterand safer than prescription drugs!

Researchers attributed the cholesterol-lowering effect to a compound in blueberries called pterostilbene . This is an amazing compound that causes your liver cells to remove excess cholesterol.

Was this study a fluke?

Hardly!

In another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, Canadian researchers supplemented the diet of pigs with about 2 cups of blueberries a day. The result?

The pigs’ low-density lipoprotein or “bad cholesterol” dropped 20%! That’s how powerful blueberries can be!

Monitor Blood Pressure At Home

Why Does My Blood Pressure Go Up and Down So Much?

A person can use a blood pressure monitor to regularly check their blood pressure at home.

According to the , people who have a diagnosis of high blood pressure should check that their blood pressure stays below 130/80 millimeters of mercury . If someone has an elevated systolic or diastolic pressure reading, they should contact their doctor.

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Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa

Reduce high blood pressure while enjoying a resort vacation. All-Inclusive Program

I used to think these dramatic drops in blood pressure were something that happened to only a very few people, continues Dr. Fruge, but Ive been here at Pritikin for more than 15 years, and I see results like these every week. This isnt a miracle. Its simply what happens when we start taking good care of ourselves.

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