There are some risk factors for developing high blood pressure that we simply cannot do anything about.
For example: 1.
Getting older raises your risk for developing hypertension.
The only alternative to aging is not aging, and you know what that means.
So we can't control the risk factor of age.
2.
Being a man over the age of 45 raises the risk of developing high blood pressure.
There isn't much you can do about that one, either.
3.
Being black raises your risk of developing the disease.
You can't change that.
4.
If high blood pressure is hereditary -- that is, if there is a history this disease in your family.
You can't change your ancestors.
There are those, however, who raise their risk of developing high blood pressure because of lifestyle choices that they make.
Those choices can be changed.
We can make better choices and actually lower our risk for developing hypertension.
1.
Weight control: Obesity is one of the number one risk factors for developing high blood pressure.
If you are overweight, lose weight, and if you are of normal weight, stay that way.
2.
Reducing salt intake: Americans get too much salt in their diets.
This is mostly due to the high consumption of processed, convenience, and fast foods.
Read labels and choose lower salt (and fat) foods.
3.
Increasing exercise: Too many of us are sedentary.
We sit behind a desk all day and a TV all evening.
Our idea of exercise is jogging to the fridge on commercial breaks.
Only 20 minutes of low-aerobic exercise per week can help to maintain a normal blood pressure or even lower it that is too high.