Natural Ways to Bring Down High Blood Pressure Quickly

High blood pressure can lead to or complicate other health issues. It is associated with strokes and heart conditions and can be elevated by weight, stress and illness. Blood pressure is considered high when the top number is above 140 and the bottom number is above 90. A typical average blood pressure reading is 120/80 or less. If you tend to have high blood pressure on a regular basis, more than likely your doctor has you on medication; however, there are a few natural ways you can lower your blood pressure when it spikes.

Fish

• Keep a fish tank or a small bowl of fish in your home or on your desk at the office. It has been shown that simply sitting and watching fish move in their environment lowers blood pressure. It is more than likely the fact that you are focusing on something besides whatever is worrying or stressing you out that causes the blood pressure to fall. It also helps that you are sitting still and relaxing. Once your blood pressure has returned to normal, you can resume your activities with a calmer, more focused attitude.

Rest

• Lying down and resting can help lower your blood pressure quickly. Going to sleep would be an excellent way to take your mind off the stress of life, but sometimes worries prevent this. So if you can at least find a way to take your mind off things and focus on something different while lying down, it can help. Some examples might be watching TV or reading. These things tend to take you to another place and remove you from your worries.

Relaxation Techniques

• Certain stress-relieving techniques can help lower blood pressure quickly and naturally. Breathing exercises and yoga are among these. They relax your body, focus your mind and calm you. With yoga, muscles are stretched to pull out tension and knots that stress creates, and breathing techniques are used to slow the heart rate. Progressive relaxation works on one part of the body at a time, slowly relaxing it and then moving on to the next. It usually starts at the feet and moves up until it reaches the head. Breathing is kept even and slow, while you concentrate on relaxing each part.

Not Stress Related

• If your blood pressure is not caused by stress or worry, then it is likely is occurring because of a health condition--such as being overweight--or an illness. If this is the case, a longer, more involved process is needed to lower blood pressure like daily exercise and a change in diet. These are not quick remedies for lowering blood pressure, but they tend to last if you stick with them.