High Blood Pressure
High Blood pressure increases your risk not only of a stroke or heart attack but also developing kidney disease and dementia.
Simplified, blood pressure is the pressure of your blood in your arteries. If it is too high and left untreated it increases the risk of you having a stroke or heart attack,
There are usually no symptoms with high blood pressure and you may be unaware you have it.
The only way to find out is to have regular checks. A healthy blood pressure reading is 120 over 80. (120/80) The first number is called the systolic pressure which measures the pressure when your heart pumps the blood around your body. The lower reading is your diastolic reading and this is when your heart relaxes.
What ever age you are a reading of 140/90 is deemed to be high blood pressure and if it is constantly above this level will need lowering.
What can you do to lower your blood pressure ?
Eat more fruit and veg. They contain the greatest source of potassium which helps lower blood pressure. Frozen and tinned are as good as fresh.
Eat less salt. Too much salt raises your blood pressure . An adult should have no more than 6g per day but most of us have much more, especially with hidden salt in processed foods.
Lower your consumption of alcohol to no more than 3/4 units for a man and 2/3 for a woman.
Lose weight if you are over weight,as your blood pressure is likely to be higher than it would be if you were the correct weight for your height.
Take more exercise. Half and hours do something 5 times per week which makes you breath faster and warms you up !
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