Being Young with High Blood Pressure

And what can you young, old, or healthy do about it?

One of my health issues during the four year period I was sick was having high blood pressure. You don't think a life-long dancer is going to have heart issues in her mid-late 20s.

Although I've since conquered that battle, it is something I know I have to continuously keep an eye on. If I see something start to creep up (I'd still like it to keep coming down anyway) it's time to be proactive.

Compiled for myself for you all & anyone to use, are a list of five natural & healthy things you can do to help yourself along - whether you have high blood pressure or would just like to prevent it.

1) What to eat or not to eat:

 Garlic helps naturally with so many things whether you're catching a cold, warding off the flu, or have chronic illnesses. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory and will also help with arthritis.

2) Salt = No bueno for high BP people. The recommended daily amount for regular normal people is 2,300mg / day max. If you have high blood pressure or are susceptible to it, the recommended daily allowance is reduced to no more than 1,800mg a day.


3) Marjoram & essential oils

 

Marjoram was known to the Greeks and Romans as a symbol of happiness. Essential oils enter through the bloodstream by diffusion through the lungs or through the sweat glands when used aromatically or topically. These oils lower the blood pressure by gradually dilating constricted arteries – which usually force the heart to exert more pressure when pumping blood.

I will be picking up a bottle of this in a couple weeks through doTERRA here if you'd like to try it as well.
Here's another short article on essential oils and blood pressure: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/aromatherapy-CDC-high-blood-pressure-1579.html

4) Yoga -

For the past year or so I've been trying to get myself to do yoga more consistently. I had an instructor I liked back in 2014 but only saw her once a week - if that. I'd like to try to get up to three nights a week. Personally I find doing yoga at night instead of the morning is much more relaxing and a great way to end a long (stressful) day.

5) Continuing education, consistent re-evaluation.
 Check your potassium! Low levels can contribute and also cause stiff muscles. Recommended potassium intake is 3,500-4,200mg a day. I went two weeks without my salads that usually contained spinach and avocado and saw my average daily intake drop to only about 600mg. I didn't even realize this until I went back through my food logs on www.myfitnesspal.com

You don't have to be old or a smoker to have high blood pressure. You could be young, eat pretty fabulously and exercise 4-5 times a week and still get it (me! woo hoo!) There are many, many factors that can come into play that we might not think of or even feel we have. While mine may be from stress, that doesn't mean I shouldn't take into account other positive things that I could be doing to help, like consuming more anti-inflammations (ginger, garlic, lemon, cayenne, cinnamon, honey, leafy greens), focusing on better sleep, different exercises, and seeing what works best for me.

One of the greatest things I've noticed in trying to be healthier in one aspect, is that it often ends up helping another aspect that you weren't even intending to. In trying to lose weight, you could notice you don't catch colds as easily since you're eating better. If you try to reduce blood pressure, you may notice a positive change in mental health & overall well-being, because the good and healthy things you do to your body end up touching all aspects, whether you like them or not. :)

Namaste.

Yours in health and happiness,

Samantha Marie