What are some natural methods to keep my blood pressure in a healthy range?

Medication isn’t always necessary to lower blood pressure. Many lifestyle factors like getting better sleep, healthy dietary choices and regular exercise can play a significant role in your cardiovascular health, even when compared to medication, in the long run.

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure — a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 or above or a diastolic pressure (the bottom number) of 90 or above — you might consider, or have been asked to consider, taking medication to bring your numbers down.

Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.

This is especially important for those who have been diagnosed with an aneurysm, as high blood pressure is a risk factor for aneurysms rupturing. Among the lifestyle factors you may want to consider:

• Manage your BP by taking steps towards losing any excess fat – not pounds – but body fat percentage to be reduced. Low-glycemic impact eating has proven to be effective when compared to low calorie eating.
• Exercise regularly. This improves cardiovascular tone, in both the heart and the vessels. This decreases BP and reduces your risk of a cerebral aneurysm. Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise program. Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions.
• Eat a healthy diet. If its lean and green or colorful, you can eat it. If you have to ask yourself for permission, then the answer is no.
• If you struggle to keep to an eating plan- an effective way to support yourself is by keeping a diet diary and being mindful of the foods, timing of food and the frequency of your food choices.
• Limit your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor, both before and after aneurysm for a cardiovascular event. In small amount it is protective, but that protection is lost if you over consume.