If you suffer from high blood pressure, the condition will not go away without treatment. People with hypertension sometimes have to remain on medication their whole lives and make a commitment to adopt a healthier life style in order to prevent the serious consequences the condition can have on their health. High blood pressure usually comes with age, and senior citizens remain most likely to suffer from hypertension.

You cannot cure high blood pressure; however, you can, fortunately, control it. You can take a few steps to both prevent getting high blood pressure and treat it. The first step involves adjusting your diet to your health needs. High blood pressure patients sometimes have to reduce or eliminate salt from their diet because of their medication. Include lots of vegetables and fruit in your diet and reduce fat and sugar levels. If you are overweight, take the necessary steps to stop gaining weight and gradually start losing the extra pounds. Maintaining a healthy weight proves essential in controlling blood pressure levels.

Exercise on a regular basis. People with sedentary lives have more chances of developing high blood pressure. Senior citizens tend to avoid physical exercise, but this can prove damaging to their health. Even if your body is not as fit as it used to be, this shouldn’t stop you from exercises 30 minutes every day. Take a long walk, do some weight lifting, go swimming, or do any other physical activity you enjoy.

Get rid of the stress in your life. Of course, nobody can avoid stress altogether, but you can learn how to manage stressful situations and take time to relax every day. Stress control helps lower blood pressure levels and reduces the risk of complications. Make a habit of taking one-half hour every day to relax, listen to some music, or take a relaxing bath.

Quit smoking and limit your intake of alcohol. Smoking poses several serious threats to health. Aside from lung problems and premature aging, smoking creates cardiovascular problems, thickens the blood and contributes to high blood pressure. Go to your doctor to ask for advice about how to quit smoking. Drinking too much alcohol can also create blood pressure problems in the long run, so limit it as much as you can.

Make sure you detect high blood pressure problems in time. As high as 20% of people with hypertension don’t have symptoms or ignore them and therefore remain unaware of the problem. Senior citizens should especially understand they might suffer from high blood pressure due to their age and other risk factors. Make appointments with your doctor a few times a year to check your blood pressure and have an overall physical examination. If your doctor prescribes medication for blood pressure, ensure you take it. Untreated hypertension can have serious consequences such as heart attack, stroke or diabetes.

Show Me More Articles

© 2010, Senior Citizens Directory