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How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally
Hypertension, (High Blood Pressure) is one of the most common and
dangerous health issues facing people today. In the United States, it
now affects a staggering one out of four adults. There are many
different causes of high blood pressure. These can include obesity,
stress, poor dietary choices, lack of regular exercises and excessive
sodium intake. Poor dietary choices (fast food, junk food, diets high
in meats and dairy) cause hypertension by clogging the arteries. When
the arteries become clogged with plaque, they force the blood to move
through smaller spaces around the body. As the artery walls grow more
encrusted with plaque, the pressure through the arteries skyrockets. In
addition, working or living in a chronically stressful environment can
also have the same effect or make a bad condition much worse. Uncontrolled
high blood pressure has been found to cause atherosclerosis (thickening
and hardening of the arteries), which is directly linked to strokes and
heart attacks. Hypertension has been found to weaken the blood vessels,
causing aneurysm, which can lead to heart failure. Narrowed and
weakened blood vessels in the kidneys lead to poor kidney function. There
are a number of different ways to naturally correct the problem of high
blood pressure. When one makes some simple changes in their diet and
lifestyle, it can have a dramatic effect on blood pressure. Here are
several effective ways to treat high blood pressure: Exercise Exercise
is one of the best ways to combat high blood pressure. Exercise helps
you maintain a healthy body weight, which has a dramatic effect on
lowering blood pressure. Exercise also helps to reduce stress, which
further helps lower it back to a healthy range. A Healthy Diet Eating
a healthy diet rich in whole foods is another fantastic way to lower
blood pressure and maintain overall good health. For example, diets low
in sodium and rich in potassium will help to minimize the risk of
hypertension. Diets low in cholesterol will help to keep the arteries
free of plaque, keeping it much lower. Adding more fiber into the diet
helps scrub plaque off the walls of the arteries. Try adding in a
variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes, which are all high in
fiber and have zero cholesterol. In addition, papaya and garlic have
also been found to aid in decreasing blood pressure levels. A
healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and a diet based on
healthy, natural whole foods as well as avoiding excessive alcohol
consumption and smoking are some of the most effective ways to protect
yourself against and reverse high blood pressure levels.
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