Ways to lower blood pressure

High blood pressure affects 1 in 3 American adults. Since there are few or no symptoms, make sure this silent killer doesn’t sneak up on you. Whether you have high blood pressure or not, and especially if you’re not sure, there are easy things you can do to keep healthy levels.

What is high blood pressure?

We’ve all seen the commercials. High blood pressure is so frequently talked about that you almost can’t avoid hearing about it daily. But have you checked your blood pressure lately? With age comes a higher risk of this silent killer creeping up on you, so it’s something you can’t afford to ignore.

 

By definition, blood pressure is the force of blood in the circulatory system. It’s measured by two numbers: the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic), and the pressure in between beats (diastolic). In seniors, high blood pressure (or hypertension) is considered systolic over 140 and diastolic over 90.

 

If left untreated, high blood pressure is a primary cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness. Race, genetics, poor diet, and physical inactivity are all linked to high blood pressure, but the exact cause is unknown. With few or no symptoms, it’s something to get checked even if you feel normal.

Maintaining healthy blood pressure

There are a few factors to keep in mind when maintaining healthy blood pressure levels as you age:

 

  • Weight — keep it healthy, even dropping just a couple pounds if you’re overweight
  • Exercise — get 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, but talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program
  • Stress — try meditation or relaxing walks to calm your stress levels
  • Diet — reduce salt and sugars, avoid saturated fat, limit alcohol, and eat more fruits and vegetables

High blood pressure treatment

If you develop high blood pressure, treating it is much easier than you think. Here are a few tips for high blood pressure treatment:

 

  • Adjust your lifestyle. Make some small changes, like being more active and doing what it takes to keep a healthy weight.
  • Take trusted medications. Some proven prescriptions include diuretics (or “water pills” that reduce excess body water and salts), beta-blockers that reduce heart rate and relax blood vessels, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.
  • Monitor regularly. Measure and record your blood pressure at home, and share this log with your physician to determine the best treatments.
  • See your personal doc often. We can keep a close eye on your blood pressure, adjust your medications, and watch for side effects. If you do have side effects, we will discuss what to do and recommend other options.

Knowledge is the best medicine

When it comes to keeping up with medicines, cost can also be an issue. Always ask your doctor about generic drug options or discounts to help make prescriptions more affordable.

 

Another effective way to manage medications is by using a mail-order pharmacy such as CenterWell Pharmacy. It’s easy to set up, order refills—plus you’ll receive your medications at your convenience and in your mailbox.

 

As with all drugs, remember to always follow all instructions. Your doctor and pharmacist provide this information so that your medications work at their optimal levels and to help avoid any adverse effects.

 
  1. The Facts About High Blood Pressure. From http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/GettheFactsAboutHighBloodPressure/The-Facts-About-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002050_Article.jsp#.WOfNe1KZN61
  2. Changes You Can Make to Manage High Blood Pressure. From http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/MakeChangesThatMatter/Changes-You-Can-Make-to-Manage-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002054_Article.jsp#.WOfOeVKZN63
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