7 Ways to Stop High Blood Pressure from Killing You

High blood pressure is called the "silent killer." Most people who have it do not feel sick and don't know that they have it. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure.

If you've ever tried to run water through a garden hose that's been hardened by age or gunked up with hard-water deposits, you know how hard it is to get a good water flow. Blood flow through your arteries works the same way. 

Stiff or blocked arteries can make your heart strain to push blood through all your blood vessels. The result is high blood pressure, which damages both your heart and your blood vessels. You can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits and taking medicines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 67 million Americans have high blood pressure and more than half do not have it under control. Almost 1 in 4 Americans with uncontrolled high blood pressure do not take their medication regularly.

A blood pressure reading can tell you whether you have high blood pressure. The reading uses two numbers, the systolic and dias­tolic pressures, written one above or before the other. A reading of:

• 120/80 or lower is normal· 
• 140/90 or higher is high blood pressure.
• 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number, is pre-hypertension.

If you have high blood pressure (consistently higher than 140/90) and see a conventional doctor, chances are pretty good that the doctor will tell you that you'll have to take drugs, probably for the rest of your life.

If you frequently feel stressed, angry or sad, you may be at higher risk of having a heart attack. Have your blood pressure checked each time you go to the doctor. And, talk to him or her if you cannot get your blood pressure under control.

Here are the 7 ways to stop high blood pressure from killing you:

1.   If your blood pressure is not where it should be, work in close partnership with your doctor to control it. Get your blood pressure checked regularly.

2.  Take all blood pressure medications as prescribed by your doctor.

3.  Request 90-day prescriptions for your blood pressure medication.

4.  Let your doctor know if you experience unwanted side effects from your blood pressure medication.

5.  Eat a healthy, low-salt diet and consume alcohol in moderation. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.

6.  Smoking can increase your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation plan for you.

7.   Identify causes of stress, then work to minimize or eliminate those things that cause stress for you.


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4 Ways to Deal with the Physical Consequences of Mismanaging Stress

There is rarely a simple or single solution to any

problem no matter how large or small. However, the situation can be made worse if the resulting problem is stressful and the stress is mismanaged. If so, stress can lead to a variety of health problems.

There is evidence linking the mismanagement of stress with upper respiratory infection, coronary artery disease, auto-immune disorder, poor wound healing, and depression. These health problems represent the extreme conditions that can occur.

With regards to lesser conditions, there is solid evidence that stress affects most of the basic functions of life, including sleep, memory, managing pain, sexual activity, and getting nourishment from food.

It is also becoming acceptable knowledge that many of the changes usually attributed to getting old are likely caused by or accelerated by stress. These changes include the graying of your hair, the decline of your immune system, the aches and pains you accumulate, and your basic ability to learn new information and remember all the wonderful things that have happened to you along the way.

Although stress-related physical symptoms can appear to be overwhelming, stress can be managed and the physical conditions can be minimized or even eliminated, regardless of the cause. Here we will focus on some of the more common symptoms such as frequent headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and restlessness.

1. For frequent headaches, get a good night's sleep. Have something to eat and do relaxation exercises for the neck, head, and shoulders. Message the temples, and scalp, or put a warm, dry, cloth or a cold, wet one (whichever feels better) over, face, head, or neck.

2. For fatigue, don't try to fight the fatigue. Sleep as long as you can and go to bed early every night. Eat small amounts of complex carbohydrate foods regularly during the day. And, consider taking a course of B complex vitamin pills or Ginseng.

3. For insomnia, drink a hot milky drink before bedtime. Eat protein and carbohydrate rich foods in the evening and avoid tea and coffee, especially at this time. Eat your evening meals earlier. And, reduce your alcoholic intake.

4. For restlessness, try relaxation exercise such as lying on the floor and progressively stretch and release each and every part of the body. These relaxing exercises help you to recognize and distinguish between the different sensations of tension and relaxation. Meditation and prayer also can be quite helpful..

Use these strategies to manage the symptoms associated with stress and therefore minimize the possibility of stress escalated to the more extreme physical conditions earlier mentioned.

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