Is your blood pressure reading in between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg even while you’re relaxed physically and mentally, too? Then you’re considered as someone who has prehypertension.
Prehypertension, just like what the name says, is something that precedes hypertension or high blood pressure. So in other words, having prehypertension puts you at risk of sooner or later suffering from hypertension, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.
The good news is that prehypertension doesn’t always have to turn into hypertension. According to health authorities, springing into action right away can help keep hypertension from striking.
Just been told by your doctor that you have prehypertension? Keep on reading — below you will come across some of the steps that you may take in order to prevent prehypertension from becoming hypertension. Feel free to repost this article later on so that everyone you care about who is has prehypertension may also be able to do the following:
Cut Back on Sodium
Heart specialists say that individuals who are suffering from prehypertension should limit their daily intake of sodium to 2,400 milligrams or even less.
Ensure that you do your best to stay away from processed foods, sauces, dressings and canned soups as these food products tend to contain loads of sodium that can cause your blood pressure to increase even more. Carefully reading labels while shopping, needless to say, is a must.
Opt for Healthy Foods
It’s not just food products loaded with sodium that you should consume in great moderation, but also those that are packed with blood pressure-increasing saturated fat and bad cholesterol.
Someone who is told to have hypertension is highly encouraged to consume lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains on a regular basis as they’re rich in antioxidants and fiber that help to lower the blood pressure.
Maintain an Ideal Weight
One of the many risk factors for hypertension is being obese or overweight. It goes without saying that it’s a good idea for you to try to eliminate excess body pounds if you weigh more than you should.
Being obese or overweight can also increase your chance of winding up with type 2 diabetes, which is something that can wreak havoc on your blood pressure readings.
Stay Physically Active
In order for you to shed off excess pounds, make sure that you are on your feet most of your waking hours. Leading a sedentary lifestyle is actually regarded by health authorities as something that can increase a person’s risk of winding up with hypertension and the many complications associated with it.
Getting your regular dose of exercise is good in keeping prehypertension from turning into hypertension. Consult your doctor about starting a regular exercise regimen especially if you have been sedentary for months or years now.
Keep Stress to a Minimum
While it’s true that being physically active is an important step to take in the war against hypertension, it’s not recommended for you to push your body to its limits. Needless to say, you should avoid having high levels of stress.
Luckily, there are so many stress-lowering activities that you may engage in — they range anywhere from having a massage, taking a soothing bath, listening to relaxing tunes to doing yoga.
Drink Alcohol in Moderation
It’s not just a nasty hangover that you should worry about if you are fond of consuming lots and lots of alcohol, but also an elevated blood pressure reading. It goes without saying that drinking in moderation is of utmost importance if you are diagnosed with prehypertension.
According to health professionals, you should stick to a glass of alcohol per day if you’re a female or up to 2 glasses of alcohol per day if you’re a male.
