High Blood Pressure: Find Out How you can manage it!

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition that places huge amounts of strain on your heart. If high blood pressure is not managed, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, aneurisms and shortened life expectancy. It is therefore extremely important that it is managed. One way to do this is by changing your dietary habits.

People who are overweight are at a higher risk and more prone to developing high blood pressure. In fact, two thirds of cases of high blood pressure develops as a direct result of obesity! One of the main reasons why weight should be carefully managed. Trying to maintain a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19kg/m² - 24.9kg/m² is critical.

One’s dietary choices play an important role in helping to maintain a healthy weight, so be sure to choose foods that are low in total fat and saturated fat. Remove the skin from the chicken prior to cooking, use margarine instead of butter and low fat dressings and sauces. Plenty of fruit and vegetables should be consumed every day. This will help keep high blood pressure at bay.

Another risk factor for developing hypertension includes sodium sensitivity. In some cases, reducing the sodium intake has been effective in managing the condition. If you have used salt in your food during cooking, avoid using it once it’s served. Takeaways, ready meals, soups, sauces, stock cubes, crisps and biltong are very high in sodium. The dietary guideline for sodium is 2 400mg per day which is just over 1 teaspoon of table salt.

Try to avoid smoking and alcohol intake. 30 Minutes of exercise, three times a week will definitely improve overall wellbeing.