Preventative Measures for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is something that affects millions of people. It is becoming more common everyday, to the point where it is now appearing in young people. Although high blood pressure is treatable, sometimes it is tougher to treat than other illnesses.
When you have high blood pressure, the remedy is lifestyle change. A lifestyle change is always the preferred method of treatment, especially when medication is the other alternative. Medication does help but a lifestyle change will have a bigger impact and improve the quality of your life.
What Are Preventative Measures For High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure isn’t something that is simply “a fact of life” that just happens – it is an ailment that you want to avoid if at all possible. It’s not good for your health or your overall well-being. Preventative care is the best treatment; to be proactive and practice preventive measures to avoid high blood pressure, here are a few suggestions.
Exercise. You knew this would make the list. The simplest way to prevent high blood pressure is to maintain a healthy body weight. Exercise regularly, even 30 minutes a day of cardio vascular exercise will help.
Stay away from alcohol. Overindulging in alcohol (not just a couple of drinks a week, but multiple drinks a night) can set off a transmitter that will cause your blood pressure to increase.
Monitor your salt intake. If you take in too much salt you will retain more fluid and that will contribute to high blood pressure.
All this may seem simple to you and the truth is it can prevent high blood pressure. You may have a busy schedule and your attention may be elsewhere, but when you take the time to take care of yourself, you will reap the benefits later in life.
Who Can Have Blood Pressure Issues?
You may think you feel good and are in good health; many who have been seriously impacted by high blood pressure would have said the same thing. The truth is that anyone is a candidate to have blood pressure issues. Typically you won’t see it in children, but there have been cases where kids in high school, barely old enough to drive, have had high blood pressure. There can be many causes for it, but typically it’s due to obesity.
We are a very reactive society, giving our attention to something only after it becomes a problem. To change the cycle, you must be proactive, through regular doctor visits, have your blood pressure checked and stay informed on where you stand. You never know when it may impact you.
It should be noted that African Americans and Hispanics have a higher risk, but it is a potential problem for anyone.
How Do I Monitor My Blood Pressure At Home?
If you want to monitor your blood pressure, we recommend getting an electronic blood pressure cuff. Many models are going to be fairly accurate, but remember that you get what you pay for. Although these devices can give you a good idea of your blood pressure, it’s always best to be seen by a provider to give you more accurate results. All electronic equipment is prone to error so a manual test is the best way to get a true reading. You can always compare your results in the office with your home device to get a better idea of how accurate your readings are at home.
Is High Blood Pressure A Curable Illness?
The first thing that may come to mind if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, is if it’s curable or if it’s a lifelong illness that must be managed. High blood pressure is a lifelong illness that you can manage. However, it comes down to the effort you are willing to put towards managing it.
Having high blood pressure means a lifestyle change. If you put in the work necessary, you will be in control. This means exercising, lowering your salt intake, stop smoking and stop drinking alcohol (or at least minimize it). When you take your health seriously, you will see the results.
Medication will help with normalizing it, but you still need to do your part.
What’s Next?
If this article has you wondering about your blood pressure, talk to one of our providers about it at your next visit. The key, as it is for all illness, is preventive care. Be proactive about your health and make the necessary changes today to have a healthy lifestyle.
Contributing Provider
Dr. Heath Spivey
Our contributing provider to this article on blood pressure is Dr. Heath Spivey. Dr. Spivey is a veteran of the US Air Force with the rank of Senior Airman. In 2011 he graduated from Ross University School of Medicine with High Honors. His belief in preventative medicine and treatments is best articulated in Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Dr. Spivey joined Warner Family Practice in 2014.
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