Managing Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a condition that shows little to no symptoms, but it can significantly affect your overall health, putting you at risk for serious health problems like heart disease.
Thankfully, high blood pressure does not have to be a lifelong diagnosis. With a little understanding and a big commitment to a few heart-healthy lifestyle choices, you can take control and manage your blood pressure.
What Is Blood Pressure And Why Does It Matter?
Blood pressure is the force with which blood passes through arteries. You can measure your blood pressure using systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart muscle contracts, while diastolic pressure is the pressure when the heart is relaxed.
An ideal blood pressure reading is below 120 systolic pressure and below 80 diastolic pressure. Once your numbers get above those levels regularly, a doctor may diagnose you with high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
High blood pressure is prevalent in America, with over half of the country diagnosed with hypertension. Unfortunately, most individuals don't experience any signs or symptoms of high blood pressure. In fact, the only way to really know if you have high blood pressure is with consistent blood pressure readings. However, if you leave high blood pressure untreated, it can significantly increase your risk of life-threatening conditions like heart disease, kidney damage, and stroke.
Assessing Your Risk Of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure develops over time and can happen at any age. Lifestyle choices are the reason so many of us have high blood pressure. Habits and preferences like smoking, eating a sodium-rich diet, being sedentary and being overweight are the top risk factors of hypertension, along with having diabetes or sleep apnea.
Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Blood Pressure
It is possible to lower and maintain a healthy blood pressure level, regardless of age. The best way to keep your blood pressure under control is to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.
- Exercise regularly. Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for high blood pressure. You don't need to work out daily or undergo strenuous exercise; instead, find small ways to move your body, like going for walks or bike rides. Even low-impact activities like yoga or golf can help lower blood pressure.
- Eat a well-rounded diet. You want your foods to be nutrient-rich options that benefit your body. Aim to get a well-rounded mix of heart-healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and nuts. You also want to limit saturated and trans fats, primarily from ultra-processed foods like cookies and microwavable dinners.
- Don’t smoke. The chemicals found in cigarettes are harmful to many aspects of your health, so it's probably no surprise that smoking can increase your risk for hypertension. Smoking is an addictive habit, so don't feel shy about reaching out to doctors and specialists for help quitting.
- Find ways to manage your stress. The occasional stress won't affect your health too much, but chronic stress can trigger your "fight or flight" response and raise your blood pressure over time. Find ways to manage your stress, such as meditation, exercise, therapy, or anxiety medications.
Staying Healthy With Visiting Angels
If you’re a senior with high blood pressure or a blood pressure-related condition that makes it difficult to care for yourself, the team at Visiting Angels can help. Our professional caregivers work with clients throughout Garland and Rockwall, Texas, to ensure they live quality, independent lives.
Caregivers with Visiting Angels can help with nonmedical tasks like cooking, medication reminders, dressing, grooming, and light housekeeping. They can also help schedule appointments and provide transportation. We also offer various specialized services, such as dementia and end-of-life care.
Before committing to a Visiting Angels caregiver, you can schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about how a caregiver can improve your day-to-day life. These consultations are also a great time to ask questions and express any concerns.
Contact our Garland office to learn more about at-home caregiving services with Visiting Angels.