When your blood pressure is elevated, most often you don’t feel anything. It is a silent condition. All medications have the potential for side effects. So many people have chosen to avoid the medications and ignore the hypertension.
So what?
If untreated, high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and other cardiovascular conditions. It really is a big deal.
So what can you do if you have hypertension?
First, take your medicine every day as prescribed! If you have side effects or problems taking it, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away.
Second, if you smoke, it is truly important that you stop. Smoking greatly increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Third, if you drink alcohol, limit yourself to 1 drink per day and let your doctor know that you drink. This way your medicine regimen can be chosen with that in mind to reduce any risks to you.
Fourth, limit your salt intake. Ideally stop using your saltshaker, rinse your canned vegetables and
cook them in fresh water, watch sodium content in foods. Many quick and easy (heat and eat) foods are high in sodium. This can increase your blood pressure.
Fifth, maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk for heart disease and makes your blood pressure harder to control. Losing weight usually requires a combination of healthier eating and exercise. Check with your doctor before you start an exercise routine to be sure it is a healthy one for you with your hypertension. (You can calculate your body mass index at this link.)
Sixth, control your diabetes. Many people with diabetes have hypertension and are overweight. Metabolic syndrome is a term to describe having hypertension; obesity, especially around your middle; high cholesterol; and diabetes. Having this syndrome is another risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
So, there are several healthy steps you can take to protect your heart and lower your blood pressure.
For more information, contact us at www.medsmash.com.
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