Having persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of health conditions, some of which are potentially life threatening. These include heart disease, heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
To reduce your risk of these conditions, it is wise to keep your blood pressure in check. In this blog post we explore how to lower blood pressure. Read on for easy tips and lifestyle changes that will help you get your blood pressure within a healthy range.
Blood pressure is measured by systolic pressure (the higher number) over diastolic pressure (the lower number). Both of these metrics are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
The healthy range of blood pressure is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. If your blood pressure is 140/90mmHg or higher, you have high blood pressure.
If your blood pressure is between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg, you may develop high blood pressure if you don’t take action to lower it.
High blood pressure doesn’t always have a known cause, but the following things can increase your risk of high blood pressure:
The good news is that these are factors that you can influence and change, with some simple changes.
Here are some simple ways you can lower your blood pressure:
It is important to note that there are some factors that increase your risk of high blood pressure that you can’t change.
You are at a higher risk of high blood pressure if you are over 65 or have a relative with high blood pressure.
Your ethnicity can also influence your risk. People who are of black African or black Caribbean descent are at a greater risk of high blood pressure.
If the risk factors for high blood pressure apply to you, it is a good idea to book a heart screening.
At your heart screening, an expert cardiologist will check your overall heart health, including your blood pressure. This can detect the early warning signs of heart disease so we can put a treatment plan in place to improve your heart health.
Put your heart health first. Book an appointment today.