Blood Pressure: HIGH, LOW, or just RIGHT? 

If you have been following my posts, you know that when it comes to symptoms / illness, I am all about getting to the root cause.

So a post about  BLOOD PRESSURE will be no different. First of all, let’s start with what it means to have high blood pressure.

What Does High Blood Pressure Feel Like?

It could feel like confusion, a headache, chest pain, however, these these things are often only experienced when your BP gets really high. High blood pressure that isn’t well, crazy high (also known as pre-hypertension), will often not produce any noticeable symptoms, but it could still be potentially be dangerous.

One thing to keep in mind is that blood pressure increases with age for everyone. So if you are reading this in your thirties, you are definetley in a timely position to change your habits in an effort to prevent high blood pressure.

Ok, And Now For The Numbers

Ideally you want your blood pressure to be between 90 and 120 for the upper number, which is your systolic pressure (occurs when your heart contracts) and between 60 and 80 for the lower number, which is your diastolic pressure (occurs between heart contractions, or “at rest”). These numbers represent millimetres of mercury, or mm Hg.

If your heart is creating a stronger pressure upon contraction, something around 140 for example, and your lower number is creeping up to 90, this is causing extra strain on your heart. If left unaddressed, this could mean Stage 1 of Hypertension. Stage 2 is serious, and it starts when you reach 160/100.

Hypertension leads to the wearing out of your organs. It means a slow, steady decline in your health that will eventually result in heart disease and/or stroke. At the Stage 2 phase of Hypertension, your doctor will recommend blood pressure medication.

If your blood pressure soars to 180/110, you will be experiencing any number of symptoms, including chest pains, vision problems, difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness and possibly even blood in your urine as your kidneys start to become damaged.

Can You Reverse High Blood Pressure?

Absolutely! You can let out a gentle sigh of relief now! After all, that is scary stuff that I just mentioned!

One of the major culprits of high blood pressure is a diet full of processed food, think chips (and other processed salty food), white bread, starchy, simple carbs (white potatoes and white rice), and high fructose corn syrup (which is in almost every processed food out there). Excessive caffeine and alcohol intake make matters worse.

SO, Start With Your Diet!

Here are a few suggestions (all of which will help lower your BP) …

  1. Eat dark leafy greens (and drink green juices!)
  2. Eat lots of colourful fruits and vegetables and again, ditch the white stuff
  3. Stick to one coffee per day or better yet, opt for green tea
  4. Minimize or eliminate alcohol intake
  5. Craving something sweet? Dark chocolate is great for helping to lower high BP and cortisol!

It’s also VERY important to note the tremendous benefit that movement and stress reduction can have on lowering high blood pressure! If you are sedentary, but are still “able” to move, get moving! Start with one 15 min walk each day, and when you feel you can, add a second 15 min walk.

Also, if you have a sedentary job, try to get up at least 1x per hour and at least walk around the office. Or, do 10 jumping jacks instead. I also always recommend relaxing activities like Yoga and Meditation to people with high BP, as elevated numbers and STRESS go hand in hand.

Compound One Benefit With Another, And Another!

Not only will changes relating to diet and exercise lower your blood pressure, you will likely lose weight too! Additionally, you are likely to experience improved sleep, lowered stress, better regulation of your appetite / fewer cravings, and better physical endurance.

HEALTH IS WEALTH, and I say it’s time you revelled in the richness of having tons of energy, a better mood, and deep, delicious sleep at night?

Please share this with anyone in your life who has high blood pressure! I guarantee that the changes suggested above will greatly enhance their quality or life, heck, they could even save their life!


Want to go over your diet with me, ONE ON ONE?

If you are suffering from high blood pressure and not sure how to get motivated to change your habits, work with me as your “Nutrition Trainer.” It won’t be hard, it won’t feel impossible, because the very first task is to get to know YOU and what will work for YOUR specific personality, preference, body-type, and lifestyle.

LEARN MORE

by Teshia Maher

Teshia Maher is a Nutritional Consultant, Yoga Teacher, Yoga Host for thedailyhiit.com, and a health awareness activist. She believes Yoga and Food to be the most powerful medicines on the planet and the very best vehicles for liberating the human spirit!