High blood pressure is a prevalent health condition in the United States. Nearly half, or 47%, of American adults, suffer from high blood pressure. Note that high blood pressure is defined by a systolic above 130 mmHg and a diastolic above 80 mmHg.
If left untreated, increased blood pressure is dangerous and could lead to stroke, heart attack, or death. If you face a situation where your blood pressure suddenly increases due to factors like food or alcohol intake, there are ways you must know how to lower it immediately to prevent it from resulting in stroke or heart attack. Here are some tips you need to remember to help you manage your condition.
Take a Warm Bath or Shower
If you experience elevated blood pressure, taking a warm bath or shower is highly advised. The high temperature during a warm bath or shower helps you relax. It also helps your blood vessels to dilate, which results in a decrease in your blood pressure.
Soak in a warm bathtub or stay in the warm shower for at least 15 minutes and just enjoy the warm water. It will also help your muscles relax, which helps you feel good.
Drink Medication
You might want to consider Hydrochlorothiazide if you already drank your daily blood pressure medicine, but it still increases. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic drug taken orally to help decrease high blood pressure instantly.
Diuretic drugs will trigger you to urinate, which helps in decreasing your blood pressure. Your blood pressure and heart rate will increase when your bladder is full. Meanwhile, when you empty your bladder, your heart rate and blood pressure will quickly decrease.
Due to the nature of diuretics, many aren’t available as OTC medications. You’ll have to get checked up and have a prescription from your doctor. Hydrochlorothiazide is an example of a diuretic that’s used in such treatments. Getting Hydrochlorothiazide Coupons can help you save money especially if it’s included in your treatment plans.
Relax
Keep calm and relax. Don’t panic if your blood pressure increases continuously, especially if you already took a warm bath or shower and took a diuretic drug. Don’t stress yourself by thinking negative thoughts about your condition.
Stress is a contributing factor that increases your blood pressure; thus, relaxing your mind and body will greatly help manage your blood pressure. It can be done by simply sitting in a quiet room, listening to relaxing music, meditating, or reading your favorite book. Avoid using gadgets and checking your social media, as it could trigger stress.
Practice Breathing Exercise
Practicing deep breaths will help you relax faster. When doing deep breaths, exhale to your core and hold it for two seconds, then exhale. Take a quick pause and repeat the process until you feel relaxed.
Focus on your breathing to help your mind stay off negative thoughts. Practicing breathing exercise will also help you lower your pulse rate and help you to calm down.
Eat Dark Chocolate
A study conducted by Harvard shows a significant impact of dark chocolate in decreasing high blood pressure. Cacao, a plant from which chocolates are made, contains flavonoids known to be good for your heart health.
The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate, the better it is for your heart and blood pressure. Check the label when buying dark chocolate and ensure to only purchase those with 60% and up cacao.
These types of chocolate are commonly labeled as bittersweet or extra bittersweet. It usually contains a small amount of sugar and a significantly healthy amount of flavonoids. If you’re a chocolate lover, then start stacking your fridge with dark chocolates.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
To properly conduct first-aid, you must first know how to spot high blood pressure even without using a sphygmomanometer to take your blood pressure. Listen to your body and look for the following symptoms:
- Extreme headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Chest Pain
- Bloody urine
- Skin redness (flushing)
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Nosebleed
- Irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Severe nervousness
- Trouble sleeping
Once you experience these signs, immediately take your blood pressure and conduct first-aid, which we mentioned earlier and call the emergency hotline. You shouldn’t take these symptoms lightly as they could be severe and cause a more serious result such as heart attack or stroke.
If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension, you should create an emergency plan in case your blood pressure increases and you’re in danger of experiencing a stroke. Furthermore, you should have someone with you most of the time so that there will be someone to assist you when an emergency occurs.
Know What To Do
Knowing what to do during a high blood pressure attack will decrease the likelihood of it resulting in a stroke or heart attack. You can discuss your strategy with your doctor to create an effective emergency plan to help you survive an attack.
