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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is common all over the world. Seniors are more prone to suffer from this condition, but there is also a significant number of younger people with increased blood pressure.

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Regardless of age, if you don’t lower your blood pressure, it can cause serious health problems.

Health Problems Related to High Blood Pressure

When you have hypertension for a long period, the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases soars. It damages blood vessels and can lead to stroke and heart attack. Also, there is a higher chance of having problems with arteries, kidneys, and vision.

How to Live with Hypertension

To live healthier and avoid all these problems, you need to change some habits.

It sounds difficult, but you may have already started with some changes. And you don’t need to make all these changes all at once.

Keep Track of Your Blood Pressure

This is the first thing you need to do. Buy a blood pressure monitor and measure it every day. Decide what time of day you will do it, and measure it at approximately the same time every day.

Make sure you write the measurements down and keep track of the changes over time. This way you can see what has a positive and negative effect on your blood pressure.

living with high blood pressure

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Lose Some Pounds If Needed

If you are obese, you are at the greatest risk of developing cardiovascular problems. When you have excess weight, your heart needs to pump more blood, which keeps the pressure high. It is essential for your health to try to lose some pounds to decrease the risk of a heart attack.

Make Changes in Diet

Nutrition is the key to our health. There are numerous diets which promise you this and that, but you just need to follow several simple rules. Avoid greasy and salty food. Decrease processed sugar intake to a minimum. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, and see how this will affect your blood pressure.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!

Do you prefer fitness, hitting a gym, jogging, soccer? Perhaps you are more into Tai Chi or yoga? Any type of activity is good for your heart and blood vessels.

Even if you walk every day for a couple of miles, it will have a positive impact on your blood pressure. Exercises don’t need to be difficult, but exercising regularly is of great importance.

Many older adults have difficulty performing certain movements. Thus make sure you feel comfortable when exercising and do everything you can to prevent unwanted injuries.

Decrease Alcohol Intake

Here you can read everything about the impact of alcohol on older adults. Surprisingly, alcohol can even have some positive effects on seniors, but only in moderation.

Too much alcohol is not good for your body, especially for your blood vessels, since it increases blood pressure. Avoid alcohol if you don’t need it, or at least decrease the number of alcoholic drinks you consume. One drink a day won’t hurt, but more is a problem.

Give Up Smoking

While alcohol can have certain benefits, smoking cigarettes has none. It increases the risk of getting cancer and keeps blood pressure at a high level.

Giving up smoking is not easy, but have in mind that your health depends on it.

These are only some of the things you need to consider changing when you have high blood pressure. Some tips are easy to follow, while others require a lot of effort. All in all, you are the master of your health, and you choose whether you want to live a healthy life as an older adult or not.