High blood pressure affects at least one-third of people throughout the United States. High blood pressure typically doesn’t have noticeable symptoms, but it can lead to other harmful health problems, such as kidney damage, heart disease, aneurysms, and a higher risk of stroke. For those struggling to get their blood pressure under control, making lifestyle changes are essential. But it can be challenging to make those changes. We’re here to provide a short guide for what steps to take to control your blood pressure better and help you live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
How To Manage Your Hypertension To Improve Your Heart Health
While not everyone will experience hypertension, every person can benefit from a healthy lifestyle. For those with hypertension, their health needs can depend on what their body is responding to, as some people may have a higher sensitivity to salt while others experience higher stress levels. However, there are ways to get hypotension under control, regardless of what may be causing it. Here are some short tips you can follow to help prevent the risks that come with hypertension and get it under better control:
- Exercise Every Week: Getting enough exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage hypertension. The best way to manage your hypertension is by getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-level exercise a week.
- Reduce Your Sodium: People’s diet should have under 1500mg of sodium a day or about half a teaspoon, but most people tend to have well over 3,400 mg of sodium per day. The American Heart Association recommends that for managing your heart health, you can have at most 2,300 mg of sodium a day, or about a full teaspoon. Try to reach 1500 mg per day, especially if you have sodium-sensitive hypertension, as it can greatly impact your health.
- Limit Alcohol Consumption: Limiting your alcohol consumption to at least one drink per day if you are a regular drinker can help. Drinking in moderation provides many benefits, and even going alcohol-free can especially cut down on your sugar intake.
- Make Sure To Get Some Potassium: Potassium is the mineral you need if you have high blood pressure, as this nutrient works to help remove sodium from your system and reduce blood pressure over time. You can get potassium from foods such as bananas, green vegetables, salmon, beans, and dairy products.
- Relax and Let Go Of Stress: Stress can greatly contribute to high blood pressure, so taking measures to cut stress out of your life can be an excellent way to manage it. Your mental health can affect your physical health in many ways, so cutting out toxic influences can help reduce unnecessary stress.
Schedule An Appointment With Linda Clark, NP, Today!
At Linda Clark, NP, Linda Clark provides valuable healthcare for patients throughout Newport Beach, CA, and through telemedicine appointments nationwide. At our practice, Linda Clark and her team will be here to help support you and connect you to the resources you need most to care for your health. For more information, call (949) 757-1150 to schedule an in-person or online appointment.
