High blood pressure (hypertension) is considered the “silent killer” of the 21st century. This condition is hard to identify, yet it’s a frequent cause of heart disease and stroke. A lot of people go about their day-to-day lives without realising they have it – that is until a major health complication happens seemingly out of nowhere.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Your blood pressure isn’t always the same – it tends to change depending on the activities that you do during the day. If your measurements consistently show numbers above the normal level, a doctor will diagnose you with high blood pressure. When you do the measurements, two numbers pop up on the display:
- Systolic blood pressure – the first number shows the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart pumps blood.
- Diastolic blood pressure – the second number shows the pressure in your blood vessels while your heart is filling and relaxing.
If your numbers are consistently above 130/80 mm Hg (or 140/90 mm Hg according to some other health care professionals), then you have high blood pressure. Although medications prove to have great efficiency for lowering blood pressure levels, there are several other tried-and-true ways in which you can maintain optimal blood pressure.
Regularly Measure Your Blood Pressure with a Quality Monitor
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High blood pressure usually comes without warning signs or symptoms. In order to detect it, you need to do regular measurements. You can measure your blood pressure at a doctor’s office, at a pharmacy that has the right equipment, or even from the comfort of your own home, using your own blood pressure monitor.
The last option is the most convenient if you have a busy daily routine and can’t find the time for additional appointments. If you want to get accurate measurements, however, you will need a good blood pressure monitor.
When looking to get one of your own, it’s recommended to go for a quality device such as the digital Omron blood pressure monitor. This state-of-the-art device is equipped with a new algorithm that gives you an enhanced measurement accuracy. It also comes with several new and improved features:
- Colour indicator when your blood pressure is outside the standard range.
- Indicator for when you have an irregular heartbeat rhythm.
- A wide range cuff that fits a circumference range of 22-42 cm.
- The monitor inflates the cuff as needed, so you don’t need to do any adjustments. Although, you have an option to personally adjust the cuff for maximum comfort.
- The Omron app allows you to view, save and manage the data from your measurements.
- The device has Bluetooth connectivity, which lets you wirelessly sync it to your smartphone and track your readings.
- Easy to use, modern and stylish design.
- Backlight.
The blood pressure monitors from Omron are without a doubt the ideal choice for your heart’s health. This Kyoto-based brand has over 40 years of experience in research and innovation in the healthcare industry. Over the years, it’s helped thousands of people prevent potential heart complications. The high-quality Omron products for monitoring heart health are recommended by doctors and pharmacists everywhere in the world.
Exercise Often
Aerobic exercise is ideal for fighting hypertension. Good examples are walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, and dancing. Another thing you can try is high-intensity interval training, which combines short and intense exercises with subsequent lighter exercises.
If your busy lifestyle makes it hard for you to find time to exercise, there are many other ways to be physically active. You can increase your activity by using the stairs, walking, or riding the bike instead of driving, doing chores, or gardening.
Keep Track of What You Eat
Apart from physical activity, your diet can also have a major impact on your blood pressure and your overall heart health. Start by replacing your usual greasy and unhealthy snacks with fruits, such as berries. These are packed with a lot of antioxidants that safeguard your body’s most important organ from diseases. Omega-3s are also crucial for a healthy heart. Good sources of omega-3 acids are fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna. If you don’t eat a lot of seafood, you can catch up on your omega-3s with fish oil supplements.
As for the liquids that you drink during the day – it’s best to steer clear of alcohol (except for the occasional glass of red wine) and to drink more water and natural juices. Another good choice is the black Ceylon tea, which boosts your cardiovascular health and provides many other health benefits.
Learn to Manage Stress![]()
Lastly, stress is another major cause of elevated blood pressure. In today’s world, it comes as no surprise that a large portion of the population is constantly under stress. Whether it’s problems at work, family demands, politics, or other news – sometimes it’s hard to manage the stress in your life. Even if it’s hard to avoid everyday stress in today’s society, there are a few practices that can help you minimize it, such as meditation, getting a good night’s sleep, listening to music, or trying out aromatherapy with essential oils.
Bottom Line
High blood pressure is a common condition among adults in these modern times. It can lead to serious health complications, but the good news is that you can easily treat it or prevent it with a few lifestyle changes. Start by getting a high-quality Omron blood pressure monitor, implement some exercise in your daily routine, alter your diet and try to minimize stress.
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