| The following strategies may help to
| |
| | obese people also have sleep apnea, in
|
| prevent high blood pressure and organ
| |
| | which they stop breathing dozens or
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| damage it may cause.
| |
| | hundreds of time a night, snore loudly
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| Decrease salt (sodium) intake: Read food
| |
| | and suffer from daytime sleepiness. Sleep
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| labels so you know the salt content
| |
| | apnea is linked with high blood pressure.
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| before you buy a product in the grocery
| |
| | Reduce alcohol consumption: Most men with
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| store.
| |
| | high blood pressure shouldn't drink more
|
| Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, canned
| |
| | than two drinks per day, and women
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| soups, broths and salad dressings, which
| |
| | shouldn't have more than one alcoholic
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| are high in sodium.
| |
| | drink per day. A drink is equal to 12
|
| Eat more vegetables that are fresh,
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| | ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or
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| frozen without sauce or canned with no
| |
| | one and a half ounces of 80 proof liquor,
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| salt. Salt substitutes may work for you,
| |
| | Talk to your doctor. You and your doctor
|
| but check with your health care
| |
| | can determine your target weight and the
|
| professional, as they can be harmful if
| |
| | best way to achieve it.
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| you have certain medical problems.
| |
| | Avoid questionable products. Don't be
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| Increase dietary potassium: an analysis
| |
| | lured by promises of easy fixes with
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| of several studies indicates that
| |
| | over-the-counter diet products or
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| potassium can reduce blood pressure.
| |
| | supplements that can actually harm you,
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| Bananas are naturally high in potassium
| |
| | such as those containing ephedra.
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| and the mineral can also be purchased in
| |
| | Don't use any tobacco. That includes
|
| supplement form. For people with blood
| |
| | pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco and other
|
| pressure values above optimal levels,
| |
| | forms of tobacco, not just cigarettes.
|
| NHBPEP recommends increasing your dietary
| |
| | The combination of high blood pressure
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| potassium intake to more than 3,500 mg
| |
| | and tobacco use increases your risk of
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| per day - especially important if you
| |
| | having a heart attack or stroke. Once you
|
| have a high sodium intake.
| |
| | stop smoking, your blood pressure may
|
| If you drink alcohol, do it in
| |
| | drop by a few points. Although that might
|
| moderation. If you have no more than 2
| |
| | not seem like much, you'll also reap the
|
| drinks a day, your risk of high blood
| |
| | other health benefits of stopping, such
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| pressure is low.
| |
| | as reducing your risk of lung cancer.
|
| Other things too may help prevent
| |
| | Reduce your stressors. Once you know
|
| hypertension, like calcium, potassium,
| |
| | what's causing you stress, see which
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| fish oils, magnesium and stress
| |
| | stressors you can eliminate or reduce.
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| management.
| |
| | For instance, if you typically say yes to
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| Set aside some time every day to relax.
| |
| | each favor asked of you, start saying no
|
| Stress can cause blood pressure to rise -
| |
| | to some requests. If you get stuck
|
| in the short-term, at least.
| |
| | putting in overtime every day, talk to
|
| Lose weight: Losing just 10 pounds can
| |
| | your supervisor about a more balanced
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| help lower your blood pressure. Some
| |
| | workload.
|