18 Mar Ten natural ways to lower your blood pressure

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of serious health problems. It contributes directly to more than 15 percent of the deaths in the U.S., according to a recent Harvard study.
Called the “silent killer,” high blood pressure shows few if any symptoms, but increases the risk of major heath problems such as heart attacks and strokes, along with other serious issues such as aneurysms and kidney failure.
The American Heart Association reports that nearly 30 percent of Americans have high blood pressure and don’t even know it.
See a doctor if you haven’t had your blood pressure checked in the last two years.
If you’re found to have high blood pressure, the doctor may recommend putting you on medicine to lower it. Medication can have side-effects, though.
It’s important to know that there are also some great natural ways to lower your blood pressure.
While high blood pressure is extremely common, it is also one of the most preventable conditions.
Here are 10 natural ways to lower your blood pressure.
1. Quit smoking
2. Exercise regularly (even just power walking on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike can help by getting you more fit)
3. Limit alcohol consumption
4. Reduce sodium intake
5. Limit caffeine (cut out soda pop, switch to decaf coffee)
6. Drink tea
7. Take healthy supplements
8. Find ways to relax to limit stress
9. Try to cut down how much you’re working (Ok, I know that’s tough sometimes, but cut back where you can)
10. Seek help if you have a snoring problem

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com