Fighting Back: Controlling Your Blood Pressure

Your first reaction to being diagnosed with high blood pressure may be to cringe, thinking about the medications that you'll now have to take daily to combat this silent killer. But you can help your body fight this condition and possibly cut down or out the drug therapy. All you need is a little prompting and a bit of advice to fight back!

The first thing you need to do is discuss your options with your doctor regarding alternative treatments and ways to help your body cope. As well, if you go the herbal medicine route, he/she will have to know what you're taking and in what dosage to make sure that there will be no conflict with your regular medication.

You can adjust your lifestyle to combat high blood pressure with only a few changes. First, cut out as much sodium or salt as you can from your diet. It may seem easy, but you'd be surprised at how much salt is added to your store-bought meals and added before your food even arrives at your table! Consider alternatives to salt such as fresh herbs and spices to liven up your meals. As well, cutting back on the amounts in the first place will help you lose weight and help you get stronger.

Exercise is a major factor in combatting hypertension. Even as little as fifteen minutes a day can help your body to fight back and create a healthier environment. You don't need to purchase an expensive gym membership either, just a walk around the block daily can provide the right amount of stimulation and exercise for the average person.

Reducing the amount of alcohol you take is also an option. Even if you're a casual drinker consider cutting back to become the official designated driver for all social events. You'll be very popular and you'll feel healthier in the long run.

Ginseng is one popular herbal medicine many turn to for an alternative medication. But be aware that some herbs react poorly to various medications for blood pressure and other ailments. Always consult with a medical professional before adding any herbal remedy to your diet, even something as innocent as herbal tea. You may feel foolish, but it's better to be foolish and healthy than be quiet and suffer a major reaction.

As well, be sure to take a look at all over-the-counter medications you may have in the medicine cabinet at home or at work. Many of them have warnings in regards to those taking blood pressure drugs, listing possible side effects and negative reactions to the ingredients. Be an informed consumer and make sure that those pills you're taking for that head cold won't make you sicker in the long run.

Consider purchasing a blood pressure monitor for home use. This way you can watch your readings over time and be sure that your methods are obtaining results. There are a variety of monitors that you can buy, but they all fall into two catagories - manual and automatic.

The manual duplicates the setup you have in the doctor's office, with a cuff and gauge taking your pressure. But unless you're experienced in using such devices you may feel more comfortable with an automatic monitor. This attachs to your arm much like an armband, inflating automatically and then displaying the reading on a small digital screen attached to the cuff. Usually this is much more reliable than the manual version, but there is a higher cost involved. If you're interested in purchasing a monitor please discuss this with your doctor. He/she can refer you to a reliable manufacturer and a tried and tested product that will deliver proper readings with ease and security.

Being diagnosed with high blood pressure doesn't have to ruin your life or send you into a downward spiral. With a little adjustment you can continue to have a healthy and productive life with family and friends enjoying your new outlook and healthier results. Consider these few tips as your first few steps in taking your life back from high blood pressure!