What Helps Maintain Blood Pressure?

According to FamilyDoctor.org high blood pressure is a condition that weakens your arteries causing your heart to have to work harder to pump blood. The possible complications from high blood pressure include stroke and heart attack. Maintaining blood pressure is important to good health.

Stay Active

• The American Heart Association says that maintaining an active lifestyle helps to keep your blood circulating and your heart healthy. Staying active can also help prevent obesity, which is a contributing factor to high blood pressure.

Watch What You Eat

• Avoid foods high in fat as they can clog up your arteries and cause high blood pressure and other problems. Also avoid sodium as too much sodium retains fluids in the body and makes it difficult for the heart to move blood to the body parts that need it.

Smoking

• FamilyDoctor.org warns that the nicotine in cigarettes temporarily cause blood vessels to tighten, making the heart work harder to pump blood and causing high blood pressure.

Alcohol

• Loweryourbloodpressurenow.org recommends limiting alcohol to only one drink a day to help maintain healthy blood pressure.

Maintain Your Weight

• Being overweight puts strain on the heart and the blood vessels to get blood to the body parts that need it. Maintain a healthy blood pressure by staying at a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about what weight is ideal for you.