Stress is a huge issue, both for the elderly and the younger population. Unfortunately, stress can have a huge impact on health, impacting many areas of life. One of these areas can be blood pressure. High blood pressure, often referred to as hypertension, can be a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. In light of this, finding strategies to lower stress levels–and subsequently blood pressure–can be a good way to help improve health outcomes, especially as people get older and become more susceptible to cardiovascular issues.
A study out of Florida Atlantic University indicates that lowering blood pressure can be achieved much more easily than a lot of people might think. Things like mindfulness and paying attention to slower breathing have been shown to lower blood pressure. Researchers believe that this is because breathing is connected to the vagus nerve. When breathing is slow and rhythmical, it helps to lower stress levels and blood pressure can follow suit as a result.
High blood pressure impacts a lot of people, and in a lot of cases, it is completely treatable. Many people pass away or are permanently disabled because this aspect of their health is not properly treated. Being a bit more mindful of breathing can be an easy way to help tilt the odds of staying healthy a little bit more in your favor.
If you’re unsure of where to start, there are a lot of really good channels on YouTube that can give you a start. Do a quick search for Meditation, Breathing Exercises, or Mindful Breathing. You will be pointed to many resources that can help you get started and help fight stress. You might even find that you are happier and more relaxed as a result.
This is not to imply that you should not see a doctor if you are struggling with high blood pressure. A lot of people suffer from hypertension, and sometimes medication is the best and safest way to reduce blood pressure and improve health. It is very important that you consult with a doctor if this is something that concerns you.
At the same time, there are a lot of people that are on the borderline when it comes to needing treatment for blood pressure management. They may be trying to prevent going on medication or may be trying to improve their health for the future. This is the population that can really benefit from using medication free ways of managing their health. Mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, better diet, more exercise, and quitting smoking will all be effective ways of reducing cardiovascular risk.
Additionally, people that do take medication to manage hypertension will also benefit from all of these things. Medication is just one of many ways that high blood pressure can be combated. Again, be sure to consult with a doctor to help guide you in this area so that you are doing this in as healthy of a manner as possible. This is a major health factor and it is important to approach it in the correct way.
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