Natural ways to lower blood pressure?

[Pixiedust34]

I've had my blood pressure taken several times during the last few days, and it was a little higher than it used to be. I think this happens as we age, but I'd like to keep my blood pressure in a healthy range w/o meds. Are there natural ways to lower or maintain your blood pressure? Do exercising and keeping a healthy weight help with this? I rarely use table salt, though I know that a lot of the food we eat is loaded with sodium and I might try to buy "low sodium" versions of food when possible.

 

[java]

Keeping a healthy weight and exercising is the best way. Avoid Processed foods. Anything from a can is bad. (sodium wise) Also a weird thing but it has worked for me is to BREATHE slowly. Very slowy- twice a day I try to take 4 deep slow breathes a minutes.

All that being said. Hypertension can also be hereditary. Best thing to do is to be aware of it. And get it checked. Monitored blood pressure is the safest kind I think.

 

[wdwmom2]

Yes, that dreaded word, EXERCISE, will work. DH had HBP several years ago. Doc said exercise. It came down from the 140/90 range to 120/70 range with 1 month!!!!

 

[MIGrandma]

Get a cat.

Seriously, they say petting a cat brings down blood pressure.

Doesn't work for me though. I've been borderline high blood pressure since I was in high school. And my weight (5'1" 115 lbs.) had nothing to do with it. It has been high ever since. I've been on meds for several years. If your doctor thinks you need meds, take them.

 

[mtemm]

exercise is supposed to be good, as is keeping a healthy weight. I've been reading a lot about yoga as well and its benefits at helping with blood pressure. I've been doing yoga for about a year now and its amazing! (I also do a lot of cardio and strength training).

 

[Pixiedust34]

Thanks, everyone. The dr. said that I don't need meds, but that my bp has been a little higher than in the past. I want to get the bp down so I don't need to take meds in the future. As soon as an injury heals I'll be getting on the exercise bike more often.

 

[KristinBelle]

Exercise and a low sodium diet.

Start checking out the labels of things you eat, you won't believe how much sodium is in our foods. I didn't use table salt often but my Dad told me start looking at the labels and I was shocked, it's pretty bad.

 

[sunnyday123]

Exercise. There's just no getting around it. Also, caffeine, BC pills, and any allergy pills with sudafrin ( sp ) in it.


My blood pressure was super high a few years ago, and I went off all three and it evened out. It did get dangerously low-and we weren't sure why-so I added 1 soda in every now and then and it was fine.


Of course, my divorce helped with lowering it tremendously!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

The DASH diet was actually developed to help people lower their blood pressure. DHs doctor in the USA highly recomended it. It stresses eating lots of fruits and veggies, and low fat dairy and supplementing with whole grains and lean meats, etc. There is a book about it which also includes information about exercise, etc. and recipes. Again, it was developed with lowering blood pressure (not wieght loss) as the goal so it would seem to be very much what you are looking for. Many libraries stock the book.
Here is a link to information about it:
http://dashdiet.org/default.asp

 

[JerseyJanice]

If your blood pressure is so high that you need medicine, this advice won't be enough, but here are two things that can bring down BP:

1. Drink lots of water, at least 10 glasses a day. Your BP increases when your body retains water. Drinking a lot of water regularly will help your body not retain it.

2. Rest and even sleep on your left side. This helps blood to circulate through your major arteries.

Good luck with being able to stay off medication. It's expensive and hard on your kidneys so you want to avoid it if you can.

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP,

Mine was on the high side on my last dr's visit last month. I went out and got a bicycle. I try to ride a couple times a week.

I'm hoping it will help.

Good luck. You're like me. I will do anything to keep from having to take meds for it!

TC

 

[pixiewings71]

I try to avoid processed foods, if that's impossible I try to eat less of it. I also try to avoid fast foods, but again when that's impossible I try to chose well from the menu. Exercise and eating well helps immensely!! I do eat canned veggies, I get the low or no sodium versions, I get canned corn from my grocery store, their brand and there is zero sodium in it, love that!! I mix it with black beans for a good part of tacos. It can be done, just pay attention to what you're looking eating and be aware of sodium contents, exercise and you'll be able to maintain your BP.