HYPERTENSION... during Corona

High Blood Pressure (HBP), also known as Hypertension tells us that our arteries are not that healthy. HBP means that we are more susceptible to heart and kidney disease and to strokes. Obviously we should try to avoid it at the best of times, but more so now with Corona hovering above us!

Luckily, HBP is closely related to our diet and lifestyle; this means we can do something about it:

• Exercise - regular exercise, even mild to moderate such as 20mins 3x week helps

• Stress - try yoga, relaxation, meditation but best of all, try breathing exercises

• Stop smoking and reduce alcohol to 2 glasses of wine per week

• Diet - switch to mainly a plant based diet; Evidence shows that Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is very effective. This plant based diet is low in saturated and total fat, high in fibre

• Reduce sodium to potassium ratio - reduce table salt and increase potassium rich foods such as bananas, peas and leafy greens

• Celery - 6 celery sticks a day, a big must!

• Garlic and onions - also help with cholesterol

• Oily fish, nuts and seeds - for their omega 3

• Foods rich in calcium, magnesium and vit C
  

Remedies:

• Turmeric - reduces plaque formation, anti-inflammatory

• Hawthorn and Hibiscus - tablet or tea form, hawthorn also helps with insomnia

• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - provides benefits in about 50% of cases

• Garlic - supplements in dried form helps to lower HBP

• Magnesium and Calcium supplements

• Omega 3 fish oil supplements - preferable from food
  

You might be lucky to have had low BP all your life but from your late 50s your BP may start rising. Do yourself a favour, buy an Omron blood pressure monitor, just in case.

Do not overlook these lifestyle changes, they work. Always discuss these and any supplements you take with your cardiologist. Just be aware, having a healthy BP is in your hands, good luck!