Manage Blood Pressure

Life’s Simple 7: Manage Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. By keeping your blood pressure within your healthy range, you in turn reduce the strain on your heart, arteries, and kidneys which aid in a healthy life.

What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, means the blood running through your arteries flows with too much force and puts pressure on your arteries, stretching them past their healthy limit and causing microscopic tears. When this happens the natural defense of our body is to kick into injury-healing mode to repair these tears with scar tissue. However, the scar tissue traps plaque and white blood cells which can form into blockages, blood clots, and hardened, weakened arteries.Here’s how to maintain a healthy blood pressure range:
-Reduce your risk of overstretched or injured blood vessel walls-Reduce your risk of blockages which also protects your heart and brain-Protect your entire body so that your tissue receives regular supplies of blood that is rich in the oxygen it needs

Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg systolic AND less than 80 mm Hg diastolic or <120/80. Remember high blood pressure is also known as the silent killer. Sometimes you can’t FEEL it until it is too late so be sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Here are some of TNT’s tips on modifying your lifestyle to maintain a healthy diet
-eat a heart-healthy diet, reduce you sodium intake
-enjoy regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight
-managing stress, limit alcohol, avoid tobacco smoke

To learn more about this Life’s Simple 7 Manage Blood Pressure tip and others go to http://www.mylifecheck.org/ and for more tips from Total Nutrition Technology visit http://www.tntgetfit.com/