Can You Lower Blood Pressure Without Swallowing Drugs?

At present, 30 million Americans suffer from different levels of hypertension, from mild (between 90 to 105 mm Hg diastolic) to severe. While many people are aware of the use of drugs for the condition, few understand that you can lower your blood pressure very effectively through non-drug means. Here are 4 effective ways to lower your blood pressure naturally.

Exercise Regularly.

Regular aerobic exercise increases the ability of your heart to pump blood throughout the body. A stronger heart works less hard, leading to lower blood pressure. Exercise also helps by lowering levels of stress hormones in the body which causes arteries to relax. To get going, try jogging or brisk walking for about 30 minutes, five days a week. Also effective are stationary or road cycling, calisthenics, or any physical activity that increases your heart rate and sweating.

Improve Diet & Eating Habits.

There is a well known connection between salt and blood pressure. Most people know that salt is linked with the disease. Use salt in extreme moderation if you cannot avoid using it altogether. Control your consumption of processed food where sodium content may be high. Beyond this, limit your intake of red meat and sweets. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Low-fat dairy products and whole grains are also good diet choices. In addition, minimize your intake of caffeine, as this aggravates stress and increases the heart rate. Coffee, soda, and some energy drinks are high in caffeine.

Learn Stress Management.

It’s common knowledge that stress is bad for blood pressure. Stress management has been shown to be an effective remedy for hypertension. Take time to get away from the environment that is causing you stress, be it the workplace or your home. Do not bring work problems home. Leave them in the office where they belong. Doing this will not make the problems go away but will give you time to relax and be refreshed, and be better able to handle the challenges later.

Examine Your Attitude And Approach To Life.

The simplest and most obvious blood pressure lowering method is to take a different attitude and approach to life. Pessimism and feelings of powerlessness are linked to high blood pressure and chronic heart disease. Try not to be a “half-empty” person. A gloomy approach may cause bouts of emotional depression and these are associated with high blood pressure. The optimist faces the same issues that the pessimist does, except that he sees the issue not as a depressing problem, but rather as an exciting challenge.