High blood pressure or hypertension affects African Americans more than any other ethnicity. In this condition, the pressure that your blood exerts on the arteries is too high and can lead to other health problems. The good news is that once you’ve been diagnosed, your doctor will advise you about all the changes you can make to live well with high blood pressure. Many of these tweaks to your lifestyle are easily managed and implemented.
Even if you’re diet isn’t that bad, it doesn’t mean you’re eating what’s best for your current condition. Doctors recommend cutting down on salty and highly processed foods. High-fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats are your best bet. People who are interested in a complete change could look into the DASH or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet.
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The exact medications your doctor might prescribe will depend on your symptoms as well as any other chronic conditions you’re dealing with. However, these are likely to include diuretics to control how your body gets rid of water and sodium, ACE inhibitors and ARBs to relax blood vessels, and calcium channel blockers that keep your heart rate low.
Physical activity will play a key role in being healthy with hypertension. This is especially true if your weight is a factor in the condition. Depending on your fitness level, it’s best to find the exercises that work for you so you can stick to them. Some options are swimming, hiking, taking brisk walks, and cycling.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, you may not have regular doctor’s visits. That’s why it’s a good idea to get a machine you can use at home to monitor your blood pressure. Doing this can allow you to track trends with your readings and give you useful data to pass on to your doctor if you’re not feeling well.
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Though you may follow your medical regimen properly, things can change. New or worsening symptoms can be a sure sign of that. Sometimes the medication you take becomes less effective, so your doctor will have to change it. In other cases, prolonged high blood pressure can damage organs such as the heart and the kidneys, so make sure to tell your doctor if anything is different.
As mentioned previously, high blood pressure can affect other organs too. To make sure you aren’t developing heart issues or chronic kidney disease, your doctor may recommend scheduled blood tests to make sure you’re still healthy. If there’s a problem, you’ll be able to tackle them early.
It’s important to note that your medical regimen can change if your health status does. That means you should tell your doctor if you contract any diseases or become pregnant. This will allow you to switch to the right kind of medications temporarily.
Both liquor and cigarettes have a negative effect on your heart and overall circulation. Cigarettes, in particular, have been found to increase your blood pressure quickly.
While it’s best to quit smoking altogether, a small amount of alcohol is typically acceptable. It’s good to talk to your doctor about what would work for you.
RELATED: Surprising Factors That Could Be Spiking Your Blood Pressure
Stress is another factor in driving up your blood pressure.
If you can’t get rid of it entirely, you need to find management techniques that work. Those can include making time for hobbies, taking breaks from stressful situations, and even talking to a therapist.
Whether or not you’re stressed, you can always benefit from relaxation exercises.
For example, studies show that taking 5-7 deep breaths per minute for about 10 minutes can lower your blood pressure. Bear in mind that these exercises have more advantages that you’ll love.
It can be jarring to get a diagnosis of high blood pressure, but it’s pretty easy to manage when you pay attention to all the right details. By making changes to your diet, exercise routine, and daily habits, you can effectively supplement your doctor’s medical regimen.
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