With few early symptoms, high blood pressure can easily go undetected. When it is not properly controlled, high blood pressure often is a precursor to the No. 1 killer in the United States - heart disease.
The heart must work overtime when the blood vessels become clogged due to a plaque buildup of cholesterol and fat. This is what causes blood pressure to rise.
To stay healthy, you must adopt a healthy lifestyle. The following tips will help you prevent or even lower high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
* Maintain a healthy weight. Blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Therefore, obesity can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. If you are overweight, losing just 10 pounds can make a difference.
* Reduce salt in your diet. Your body needs salt to function properly. Most Americans, however, consume more salt than they need. You should consume about 1 tablespoon of table salt a day. Also, read nutrition labels on packaged foods to see how much sodium is in one serving.
* Increase potassium in your diet. Though most Americans eat too much salt, many don't get enough potassium in their diets. Since potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in cell fluids, not consuming enough of this mineral can lead to excess sodium. Eating foods such as fruits and vegetables is the best way to increase your potassium intake.
* Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol has been shown to raise blood pressure by interfering with the flow of blood to and from the heart. It also can harm the liver and brain. If you drink alcoholic beverages, have only a moderate amount.
* Take a natural antioxidant. A recent study of individuals taking medication to control high blood pressure found that they were able to cut their dosages nearly in half by adding a natural antioxidant alternative. One such antioxidant that has proven effective in lowering high blood pressure is Pycnogenol, which is derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree.
In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health, subjects with moderate hypertension showed significant decreases in their systolic blood pressure after taking Pycnogenol.
The most impressive results were found in patients with the highest blood pressure, at around 150 mmHg. (Experts recommend that you maintain a blood pressure lower than 140 mmHg.) The patients using Pycnogenol were able to reduce their blood pressure to 135 mmHg, right on target.
Author: Richard Lewis
Author Bio:
Learn more about Pycnogenol at www.pycnogenol.com. - NU
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