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Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure: Tips to Lower Blood Pressure

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Worried about your systolic blood pressure level? Learn more here about lowering systolic blood pressure!

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a health issue that the majority of Americans will face sometime during their life. Learning how to lower systolic blood pressure is a great way to learn how to lead a healthier life.

 

Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure

 

What is systolic blood pressure? Blood pressure is the measurement of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as it is pumped by the heart. Normally, it goes up and down. However, if it becomes constantly elevated, then this becomes a medical concern.

Blood pressure is measured in two numbers: the systolic number and the diastolic number. When your blood pressure is taken, it will be given to you in what looks like a fraction: one number over another. The upper one is the systolic number. It represents the maximum amount of pressure at any time. The lower number is the diastolic number, and represents the pressure during a relaxed state.

Good blood pressure is under 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 mmHg is called prehypertension, which means that you will most likely have high blood pressure in the future if you don’t change your lifestyle. A reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure.

The systolic number is the more important one to worry about when worrying about your blood pressure level—this is the number that determines your stage of hypertension and how it should be treated.

 

Tips to Lower Blood Pressure

If you have a high systolic blood pressure reading, the first thing to do is talk with your doctor about treatment possibilities. There is a chance they will put you on medication. The most commonly prescribed type of medication is diuretics, also known as water pills, which flush excess water and sodium from your body to lower blood pressure.

Sometimes systolic blood pressure levels can be controlled simply by changing your diet, exercise routine (or lack thereof), and drinking and smoking habits.

It is recommended that people with high blood pressure exercise at least a 30 hour a day, loose or maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, reduce the amount of alcohol they drink, and eat a healthy diet. A hypertension diet should include greater amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while reducing fat and sodium. The nutrients potassium, magnesium, and calcium are key to a healthy blood pressure diet.

 

Why should you lower your systolic blood pressure?

By lowering your systolic blood pressure, you will reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and other medical conditions in the future. The lifestyle changes you may have to make to lower systolic blood pressure will lead you to be a happier, healthier person overall!