The Path of Troubled Hearts

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the bane of the 21st century. I hear that every fourth American suffers from it. Once it sets in, it?s there to stay for the entire duration. You can ignore it, of course, but you may pay a high price. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and even kidney disease if left untreated. With your heart working too hard, you can develop angina and congestive heart failure in the long run. It is very bad news for diabetics, too.

My main issue was being overweight. The doctor warned me that I was in a high-risk group when he first diagnosed me for high blood pressure. I had to lose weight and finally joined Weight Watchers, which helped big time. Stopping smoking was a big battle for me, but I had no choice. I?m afraid I had to use some medical alternatives for a year or so. But it has been two years now since I last lit up and my high blood pressure has thanked me for it.

Exercise is non-negotiable in high blood pressure. Go easy on the cardio machines at first, and get guidance from a qualified trainer who knows about your problem.

No matter what you do for your high blood pressure, your eating habits and lifestyle will definitely have to change. You will need to reduce your salt intake. You can also help the condition stay under control by including more fruits and vegetables in your diet. You need to emphasize food that is low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol. The deep fried foods and high-fat dairy products are strictly out. You can try including a mixture of honey and onion juice once a day. Both honey and onions help in regulating blood pressure. Garlic and celery are also known to reduce high blood pressure in the long term and I’ve made them a regular part of my diet.

There’s life with high blood pressure, but it is definitely not in the fast lane. I sometimes wonder how I manage without my ten cups of coffee, but I intend to survive this condition and I’m here to tell you that I’m having a reasonably good time with it.