Practically everyone gets their blood pressure taken during a physical exam, and if it’s within the normal range, you don’t hear about it. If it’s too high or too low, you can bet your physician will dispense advice accordingly.
What exactly is blood pressure and why is it so important? B/P is the pressure of blood in your arteries, represented by two numbers, expressed as x over y or x/y.
The top number is the systolic pressure, the higher of the two numbers. This represents the pressure of blood during heartbeats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure and represents the pressure in between heartbeats. Generally speaking, 120/80 is considered the blood pressure to aim for, but there is a wide range that is considered normal or healthy, depending on age and other factors.
Blood pressure varies with each individual and even within one person. The variance is due to changing lifestyles, fitness and stress levels, and overall health of the arteries. Blood pressure increases with age and when you are experiencing a lot of anxiety. The "white coat syndrome" occurs when you know you’re going to the doctor’s office to get your blood pressure measured. The anxiety associated with the exam makes your blood pressure shoot up. This is an example of how something relatively minor can make your blood pressure fluctuate.
Because high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, can lead to an enlarged and less efficient heart, it is important to have regular checkups to prevent stroke or heart attack. High blood pressure often goes untreated because there are no visible symptoms—only those suffering from extreme hypertension tend to have headaches, blurred vision or even blackouts.
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Being overweight
Too much salt in the diet: Salt causes fluid retention, which causes the heart to work harder, which increases blood pressure
Eating too few fruit and veggies—vitamins and minerals that are naturally occurring in plant-based diets help the body process salt
Genetics: High blood pressure is hereditary
Being inactive: The less you move, the less efficient your heart
Stress: Too much tension increases blood pressure
What to Do
Laminine OMEGA+++ contains CoQ10 Extended Release, and CoQ10 has been proven to help improve blood pressure levels.
If you suffer from high blood pressure, moderate exercise is key. Be persistent and consistent, because in the long run, your heart will develop a slower resting heart rate, which will help reduce systolic blood pressure. The general rule of thumb is that if your blood pressure is 140/90 or lower, it is safe to exercise.
Cardiovascular activities, such as walking, cycling and swimming are particularly helpful for those with high blood pressure. Include some strength and flexibility activities to optimize results, but avoid heavy weight-based exercise and over the shoulder/head type exercises where the blood pressure has to fight against gravity to provide the necessary oxygen required by the muscles.
If you have normal blood pressure, exercise is key to maintaining those healthy levels, as it can help prevent hypertension from developing. If you have a family history of hypertension, exercising as a preventive measure is crucial to your health.
If you have low blood pressure, otherwise known as hypotension, you may experience dizziness when standing up too quickly from a seated or prone position. An example of low blood pressure would be 100/60. People with low blood pressure tend to outlive those with hypertension, so it is a matter of learning how to move slowly when changing position.
Have your blood pressure checked every six to 12 months, eat your fruits and veggies, exercise moderately but regularly, and don’t let stress get you down!