Health & Fitness

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious problem that millions of Americans face. Fortunately, it is one of the easiest conditions to treat if the patient takes a very active role. Lowering your blood pressure is simple with just a few changes in your lifestyle and diet.

Vasoconstriction reduces the space available for blood to pass through. With continued constriction, your blood has a harder time delivering oxygen throughout your body. One of the dangers is that vessels in your brain can become so constricted it causes a stroke. You can also end up having a heart attack because of a lack of oxygenated blood passing through your system.

Lowering Your Blood Pressure
If you suffer from high blood pressure, then the cause is quite probably your diet. Eating foods high in saturated fat and sodium takes an incredible toll on your heart and veins. They are the leading causes of vasoconstriction, along with caffeine. The first step is to reduce the amounts of these foods and drinks you intake.

Also, you should eat and drink foods high in calcium like milk, green beans and tofu. Magnesium is also great for lowering your blood pressure, so eat seeds and legumes whenever possible. Potassium is also effective at reducing blood pressure. Bananas, potatoes and avocados all have high potassium levels.