Managing High Blood Pressure

It's true. High blood pressure is a disability. But, with professional treatment and proper guidance, you can lead a normal, active life. Read this informative article and learn about managing high blood pressure!

What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is also called "hypertension." Your blood pressure is the force of the blood against the arterial walls when your heart contracts. It's measured with a blood pressure cuff. The resulting numbers are your systolic and diastolic pressure readings. A normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80. If you're diagnosed with "stage 1 hypertension," your blood pressure consistently stays around 140-159/90-99. If you're diagnosed with "stage 2 hypertension," then your blood pressure hovers around 160 and above/100 and above. Left untreated and not kept under control, high blood pressure can lead to further medical illnesses such as stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.

Managing High Blood Pressure
Other than taking prescribed medications and seeing your healthcare professional on a regular basis, managing your high blood pressure basically involves making changes in your lifestyle.

Take Your Medications as Prescribed by Your Doctor
The most important way you can help control your high blood pressure is to take your medications on a regular basis, exactly as they are prescribed. Don't try to reduce or increase your dosages. If you don't think your current medications are working, or you're experiencing side effects, tell your doctor right away so s/he can adjust the dosage or change drugs.

Keep Your Appointments With Your Healthcare Professional
Managing this disability also means that you need to go to your scheduled doctor appointments, even if you're feeling good. We want to see the doctor when we're sick so they can make us feel better. When it comes to routine check-ups, though, you may want to skip those appointments. Don't. Your doctor needs to check your blood pressure. S/he also needs those regular consultations with you so he or she can determine how you're doing and if there are changes needed.

Quit Smoking
Smoking isn't a good habit for anyone, especially if you have high blood pressure. When you smoke, your blood vessels constrict and become smaller. This makes it harder for the blood to pass through, and in turn, it raises your blood pressure. If you need help to quit smoking, ask your healthcare professional about products and programs s/he recommends.

Limit Alcohol Intake
Women who have high blood pressure should limit themselves to having one drink per day. Men are allowed to have two alcoholic drinks. "One drink" is a 12-ounce beer, five ounces of wine or one ounce of whiskey. Limiting your alcoholic intake is vital in controlling your high blood pressure for three reasons: 1. Drinking too much raises your blood pressure. 2. Drinking can affect your prescribed medications and cause them to be not as effective. 3. Drinking can add extra pounds to your frame.

Lose Excess Weight
Having this disability means that your heart is working overtime. Carrying excess weight on your frame makes your heart work even harder. That's why losing excess weight is an important part of managing high blood pressure. Not only will it make you feel better about yourself and raise your self-confidence, dropping excess pounds will help take some strain off your heart.

Reduce Your Stress
When you feel stress in your life, your body responds by releasing adrenaline and cortisol hormones into your blood stream. These substances make your heart beat faster and harder. This, in turn, raises your blood pressure. That's why part of managing your high blood pressure involves reducing the stress in your life. Simple changes such as relaxing, practicing deep breathing exercises, laughing more and developing a positive outlook can help lower your stress.

Eat a Healthy Diet
Everyone should eat a healthy diet no matter whether they have a disability or not. Good nutrition is especially important for people who have high blood pressure. Eating right adds needed vitamins and minerals to your body so it can function properly. It also helps you maintain your normal weight. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods, lots of fiber and low-fat foods and skipping salt, will help in managing your high blood pressure.

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