Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause a host of other chronic health problems, and knowing how to prevent your blood pressure from creeping up is important. Famed cardiologist Dr. Chauncey Crandall says you can help ward off hypertension without taking drugs.
Here are seven of his heart health tips.
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1. Take a two-minute vacation. According to
Dr. Crandall’s Heart Health Minute video on YouTube, closing your eyes and taking a break from your day to envision your favorite vacation spot and what it feels like to be there can help you relax, bringing down blood pressure.
2. Play with a pet. Crandall explains in his Heart Health minute video that people who have pets are less likely to have hypertension.
3. Get to your ideal body weight. Crandall tells My Solutions Magazine that this is the most important goal if you want to avoid taking drugs for hypertension.
4. Reduce stress. According to the magazine, Crandall says lowering stress is often the key to lowering blood pressure. He recommends leaning on family and friends to help get through challenging times. He also says to live below your means to reduce stress about finances.
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5. Limit sodium. On his own website, Crandall says the best way to limit sodium is to experiment with seasoning your food with herbs and spices rather than with salt. Because processed convenience foods are often loaded with extra salt, he recommends cutting processed foods entirely out of your diet. Opt for fresh, real food instead.
6. Laugh often. Crandall explains on Heart Health Minute that when you’re laughing, it is impossible to feel anxious and stressed. He recommends taking time to discover the types of things that make you laugh and incorporating those things into your daily routine for stress reduction.
7. Stop smoking. In My Solutions Magazine, Dr. Crandall says if you are worried about hypertension, you absolutely must stop smoking. He also warns about other stimulants like coffee and soda.
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