Your Blood Pressure And How I Control Mine

Blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the vital signs that determines how healthy your body is. It is the force of the blood pushing against the blood vessel walls. During a normal heartbeat, the pressure varies from high pressure, systole, to the low pressure, diastolic.

A normal adult should have a pressure of less than 120/80 (systole/diastolic). If you get a consistent measurement higher than 140/90, then your doctor may order treatments or just decide to monitor it.

Causes Of Hypertension

In some cases, people will develop this condition because of various reasons. The causes of hypertension are numerous, but some of the basic causes are:

• Smoking



• Lack of exercise



• Family history



• Excessive alcohol



• Excessive salt



• Obesity

Hypertension Complications

Hypertension, because it makes the heart work harder, can lead to such complications as:

• Heart attacks



• Heart failures



• Kidney failure



• Loss of vision



• Stroke

Symptoms Of Hypertension

Hypertension symptoms are generally not visible and people usually do not know they have it till they get it measured. That is why it is known as the silent killer. However, with extreme high blood pressure, you could develop such external symptoms as:

• Blurred vision



• Chest pain



• Nausea



• Headaches



• Dizziness

How To Reduce Hypertension

One high blood pressure reading does not generally mean you have a problem. Your pressure can vary significantly during the course of a day, mainly based on your physical activity.

My blood pressure was measured at 148/77 at a physical several years ago. The doctor did not put me on any program to reduce it, but I decided to look in to how I could lower it. I was not over weight and did not smoke. But I did take up exercising on a daily bases. For example, I ride a stationary bike for 50 minutes and lift weights for about 20 minutes.

I had also heard about Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). One of the benefits of EFAs is the ability to lower blood pressure. So I started eating more wild salmon and taking fish oil supplements to get the required amount of EFAs

Since I started this program of exercise and fish oil supplements, my blood pressure is now measured at 112/65 on a consistent basis.

Conclusion

High blood pressure can be a deadly problem for us, unless we keep it under control. You can control blood pressure naturally by controlling your weight, stop smoking, exercise and providing your body with EFAs, such as eating wild salmon and taking fish oil supplements.