If a Michigan senior loved one’s physician has told them their blood pressure is creeping up, you are probably looking for natural ways to help them manage it. Taking proactive steps now might mean they are able to avoid taking medication for high blood pressure down the road.
Because lifestyle plays such an important role in controlling blood pressure, it is possible to avoid or reduce the need for medication by making some changes.
9 Ways to Control High Blood Pressure without Medication
- Weight Management: First on the list is getting to and maintaining a healthy weight. We all know it can be tough, especially for older adults who might not be as active. But what seniors and their family caregivers should know is that a weight loss of just 10 pounds can reduce your blood pressure.
- Commit to a Healthy Diet: The DASH eating plan is gaining in popularity with physicians trying to help patients manage their blood pressure naturally. DASH is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It is a method of eating that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. DASH puts the emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy products. Research shows the DASH plan can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg.
- Limit Alcohol Intake: People aren’t always aware the role alcohol consumption can play in driving up blood pressure. Drinking alcohol can increase blood pressure while also reducing the effectiveness of blood pressure medications. Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than one drink for women and men over the age of 65, and two drinks for men younger than 65.
- Avoid Caffeine: Drinking caffeinated beverages may cause an increase in blood pressure. But it’s not the case for everyone. To see if caffeine might be raising your senior loved one’s blood pressure, take their blood pressure before they consume something with caffeine in it. Wait 30 minutes and take it again. If their blood pressure increased by 5-10 points, they may be sensitive to caffeine. Limiting their intake may help control their blood pressure.
- Tobacco and Secondhand Smoke: We all know by now that smoking contributes to lung cancer and heart disease. What many people don’t realize is that smoking can raise your blood pressure by as much as 10 mm Hg for a full hour after you smoke. So smoking all day long might mean your blood pressure stays high throughout the day. Even breathing in secondhand smoke can contribute to high blood pressure.
- Exercise: Getting 30-60 minutes of physical exercise most days of the week can help to reduce your blood pressure. And the good news is your senior loved one will see results within a few weeks. Talk with your aging family member’s physician for recommendations and advice on beginning a new exercise program.
- Restrict Sodium: One sneaky contributor to high blood pressure can be foods with hidden sodium. Reading food labels to determine serving sizes and sodium will help. As will avoiding fast foods and processed foods. Your loved one’s physician can tell you how much salt and sodium they should be eating each day.
- Reduce Stress: Most of us know stress isn’t good for us. It can contribute to high blood pressure and cardiac disease. Learning how to better manage stress can help reduce blood pressure. Walking, swimming, yoga and meditation are all good stress busters.
Finally, one tool you might find helpful in exploring ways to manage an older loved one’s risk is the High Blood Pressure Risk Calculator. It takes many factors in to account ranging from gender to lifestyle to determine a person’s risk. Then it calculates how lifestyle changes can positively impact blood pressure.