Patient checking their blood pressure [Atlanta Black Star]
High blood pressure is one condition that can have a long lasting effect on your heart. The longer it goes unaddressed the higher your chances of catching heart diseases or stroke. Here a few ways to reduce blood pressure:
Reduce your sodium intake. Excessive consumption of salt is one of the most common causes of high blood pressure. Not everyone processes sodium the same way. If your have high blood pressure try replacing processed foods with fresh foods.
Reduce on the caffeine. People who take coffee prior to having the blood pressure checked will always note a surge in their blood pressure. Caffeine consumption over a long period of time can have long lasting effects. If you feel like you may be sensitive to caffeine try reducing and seeing if it lowers your blood pressure.
Lose weight. If you are over weight, shedding a few pounds can not only help you lower your blood pressure but also help your overall health altogether. Studies have shown that losing 5 per cent of your body mass can greatly reduce your blood pressure. Losing weight allows your blood vessels to function a lot more efficiently; they will begin to expand and contract thus easing blood flow from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body.