High blood pressure plays a contributing role in more than 15 percent of deaths in the United States, according to a Harvard study. Although it causes no symptoms, high blood pressure boosts your risk of leading killers such as heart attack and stroke, as well as aneurysms, cognitive decline, and kidney failure. Twenty-eight percent of Americans have high blood pressure and don’t know it, according to the American Heart Association. If you haven’t had yours checked in 2 years, see a doctor.
While medication can lower blood pressure, it may cause side effects, such as leg cramps, dizziness, and insomnia. Fortunately, most people can bring down their blood pressure — with the added benefit of improving overall health health — naturally without medication. First, get to a healthy weight (these tips can help you lose weight). Then try these strategies to reduce your risk of heart disease.
Hypertensive patients who went for walks at a brisk pace lowered their blood pressure by almost 8 mmHg over 6 mmHg. Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn’t work as hard to pump blood.
