If you have hypertension, you might wonder if there are ways you could naturally treat it before having to seek medical attention. While doctors suggest medication in serious cases, there are home remedies you can try. Since your blood pressure is a critical indicator of your overall health, you must monitor it regularly. Keep reading to learn how you can lower blood pressure naturally.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is a measure of the force with which your blood pushes against your arteries. High blood pressure or hypertension is a health condition wherein the power of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries is too high. While there are no immediate, identifiable symptoms, those with high blood pressure are at a greater risk of heart disease and strokes.
The blood pressure of an individual is measured in millimeters of mercury. While the average blood pressure level is 120/80 mmHg, those with hypertension measure around 130/80 mmHg or more.
If an individual has a blood pressure measuring over 180/120 mm Hg, it is a hypertensive emergency. Urgent emergency care is required in such a situation.
When high blood pressure is left untreated, it can increase the risk of other critical health problems such as kidney diseases, eye damage, and heart failure. Read further to learn some causes of blood pressure.
What causes blood pressure?
High blood pressure does not come about through a single event or factor – it develops gradually over time due to certain lifestyle choices and predispositions. Certain habits, conditions and traits have been linked to an increased risk of hypertension.
These risk factors are as follows:
Modifiable Risk Factors: These factors can be controlled or treated by making a lifestyle change or taking medication. They include:
- Minimal physical activity
- Overconsumption of alcohol over the years
- Smoking or drug abuse
- Consuming too much salt in your diet. The recommended sodium amount is 1500 to 2300 mg each day
- High levels of emotional stress
Non-modifiable Risk Factors: These factors cannot be changed and are irreversible. If you are genetically endowed with these factors, your risk of developing hypertension increases.
- Family history/ Genetics: If high blood pressure is in your genes, you will likely get it too. From age 18 onwards, check your blood pressure at least once in two years. After the age of 40, get it checked every year. Diagnosing the condition early on can help you treat it sooner and, therefore, manage it better.
Other Risk Factors: Some other factors that could contribute to developing hypertension are:
- End-stage renal disease
- Thyroid disease
- Aldosteronism
- Obstructive sleep apnea
What are common symptoms people experience when they have high blood pressure?
A lot of people with hypertension do not have any symptoms, even when the levels are incredibly high. A person could have high blood pressure for many years and have no symptoms at all. However, the following could be signs that you should get your blood pressure checked:
- Shortness of breath
- Severe headaches
- Feeling lightheaded
- Nosebleeds
- Chest discomfort
However, because of how common these symptoms might be, it is difficult to trace them to high blood pressure or a different condition.
How can you lower blood pressure naturally at home?
If you are in the beginning stage of developing high blood pressure, there are ways you can deal with it at home. Some tips to lower blood pressure naturally at home are:
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet
Aerobic and resistance exercises are the most beneficial for reducing blood pressure. When you frequently exercise, your breathing and heart rate increase, making your heart stronger. Food at restaurants and processed foods have high sodium levels. Try consuming whole foods regularly.
Try to reduce stress
Many factors, such as professional commitments, personal events, and other life events, can contribute to a person's stress levels. Practice stress-relieving techniques like deep breathing, participating in leisure activities, yoga, or walking. A pro–tip is to include two squares of dark chocolate in your diet daily as it is known to reduce blood pressure.
The most critical factor – have healthy water!
There is no healthy drink on the market that can lower blood pressure. The only miracle substance is filter water!
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Mineral water is pure and chemical-free water. Studies have shown that consuming mineral water or calcium and magnesium in your drinking water can lower blood pressure.
Some other homemade blood pressure drinks you could try are:
- Beetroot juice
- Tomato juice
- Pomegranate juice
- Berry juice
- Skimmed milk
Can drinking filtered water help to reduce hypertension?
The importance of drinking water cannot be overstated. Install a good water purification system in your home to have access to safe water. The need to have filter water arises when you realize how bad the water quality from your taps is. It is even better when your water has added minerals like magnesium or calcium.
A Livpure water purifier can help lower your blood pressure
Blood pressure is a common health condition that can be managed by following a few healthy lifestyle habits. However, following the above tips to lower blood pressure is not adequate if you do not ensure sufficient water intake. Moreover, not all kinds of water are healthy – only water that passes through a filter is safe for consumption!
Therefore, it is essential to consume water filtered through a good RO water purifier. If you are thinking of buying one, browse the wide range of Livpure water purifiers. There are several types of purifiers available here, each suiting a different purpose. According to your needs and budget, there will be a perfect Livpure water purifier available for you! Hop online and browse through the Livpure online store right now to find your ideal pick.