Lower Your Blood Pressure Fast: 6 Things to try from Home

So, you want to lower your blood pressure fast? Well, let’s look at a few things first; Your blood pressure level will fluctuate throughout the day naturally. It is affected by what you eat, what you do and even what you’re thinking about. [1] However, sometimes your blood pressure can reach unhealthily high levels.

Any blood pressure reading above 140/90 mmHg is considered high. [2] High blood pressure is dangerous as it can lead to risk of nasty and even life threatening health conditions, including heart disease and stroke.

If you want to know how to lower blood pressure fast and safely, look no further. The good news is that there are things you can do immediately to bring your blood pressure down and get it closer to normal levels. By doing this you will reduce your risk of further health complications. Here are the best tips for bringing down your blood pressure quickly.

6 Things Guaranteed to Lower Your Blood Pressure Fast

Stop Eating Salty Foods Immediately

Salt will just make high blood pressure worse. Lowering your daily intake of salt just slightly can lower your blood pressure by as much as 8 mmHg. [1]

Lowering your sodium intake in general will keep your blood pressure lower over time. It is worth checking the ingredients of any processed foods you buy for salt and sodium levels. Reduce the amount of salt you use in your cooking too in order to take care of your blood pressure levels long term.

Avoid Sugary Foods too

Fructose can makes your blood pressure soar, and this is one of the things you will want to cut out immediately if you have high blood pressure. Most sugars are not going to do your blood pressure any favors, but fructose is particularly damaging because the body breaks it down into uric acid, among other nasty substances.

Uric acid drives your blood pressure up by hindering the nitric oxide in your blood vessels. [5] Substitute sugary snacks for healthy fats such as those found in nuts and seeds.

Eat the Right Things Instead

Eating nutritious foods that are packed full of vitamins and antioxidants is a great way of lowering your blood pressure and keeping it down for good. Raw vegetables and fresh fruits are vital to a healthy diet and play a key part in controlling your blood pressure. Spinach, tomatoes and garlic are all good choices for keeping blood pressure down. [1]

The DASH diet is recommended for those wanting to decrease their blood pressure long term. It stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, a diet that revolves around maintaining a healthy blood pressure level.

The DASH diet focuses on regular consumption of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables while eliminating unhealthy processed or sugary foods. [2]

Get out in the Sun

If the sun is out, heading outside is a great way to lower your blood pressure. Research has shown that soaking up UV light can lower blood pressure significantly. Sunlight oxidizes the nitrate in your skin which dilates your blood vessels. [3]

Remember to still take care of your skin in the sun by applying sun protection cream. Longer term benefits of sunlight include the production of vitamin D in the body which increases feelings of happiness and reduces stress. [1]

Try to Relax Immediately

I know it may seem easier said than done, but hear me out. Stress can often trigger high blood pressure levels. [4] If you find yourself in a stressful situation, the best thing you can do for your blood pressure is to remove yourself from it. If you are still feeling stressed, try taking time out to relax.

Taking a few moments to concentrate on breathing deeply can be a great help. Meditation and yoga are other great activities to reduce stress. We recommend Yoga Burn, by Zoe Bray Cotton for an amazing at-home yoga workout. In the long term, creating a routine that including one or more of these stress reduction techniques will be important to keep your blood pressure down in normal levels. [2]

If you find you are prone to stress, it is advised that you avoid highly caffeinated drinks. Switch from coffee to green tea, for example.

Drink the Right Beverages

It is not just what you eat that affects blood pressure, but your choice of drinks too. Make sure you stay hydrated, and if your blood pressure begins to soar then drink plenty of water (try Turapur Water). This will keep your veins hydrated and ease the load on your heart. [1]

Avoid sugary drinks or anything containing alcohol or caffeine as these can heighten your blood pressure. Alcohol in particular makes you prone to gaining weight, so make sure you stay in the recommended limits and avoid drinking alcohol altogether in a period of high blood pressure. [4]

Spend Time with your Pet

Studies have shown that observing animals reduces blood pressure. It awakens the parasympathetic nervous system which can help reduce blood pressure and counteract adrenaline spikes. [3]

If you do not have a pet, visiting a local zoo or community farm should do the trick.

It does not even have to be animal contact. Human contact is great too, so if you are suffering from high blood pressure then a cuddle with your spouse could be just what you need. Being able to laugh with our partner or friends is a great way to reduce stress, so spending regular time socialising is a good tool when it comes to keeping a normal blood pressure level.

Check out this Video with MORE Helpful Tips

In other words – you need to ensure you Make Long-Term Lifestyle Choices to keep your Blood Pressure down

While lowering your blood pressure fast is a good thing to master, it is vital that you take care of your blood pressure level long term too. You can do this by following the tips in this article and making healthy choices when it comes to diet, exercise and habits.

Putting the best nutrition into your body and maintaining a relatively stress free lifestyle will get you closer to having a healthy blood pressure level for years to come. If you have concerns about your blood pressure level, visit your doctor for advice.

For Further Reading, see our article 8 Ways to Naturally Improve Your Heart Health

References

[1] http://www.livestrong.com/article/396908-how-to-quickly-lower-your-blood-pressure-in-hour-with-food-or-water/
[2] http://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/lower-it-fast#Outlook9
[3] http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/7-weird-ways-to-lower-your-blood-pressure
[4] http://www.wikihow.com/Lower-Blood-Pressure-Overnight
[5] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/08/discover-the-secret-to-lowering-your-blood-pressure-in-15-minutes.aspx