Borderline Hypertension

Borderline hypertension is blood pressure that hovers around the upper limit of normal and may occasionally be higher than 140/90, which is the cut-off for hypertension. It's a blood pressure level that doctors may not treat with medications, but there are some good reasons to get a borderline blood pressure down.

Keep reading to find out why borderline blood pressures are a problem.....

The problem with borderline hypertension is it eventually develops into full-blown hypertension in many cases. Not only that, even borderline high blood pressures raise the risk of heart disease. For this reason, it's important to get those borderline blood pressure readings down. In many cases, this can be done by making simple lifestyle changes.

Keep reading to find out what lifestyle changes help to reduce borderline high blood pressures......

Here are some ways to lower blood pressure naturally:

• Break a sweat. At least thirty minutes of aerobic exercise daily not only lowers your risk of heart disease but reduces blood pressure as well.
• Cut back on sodium. Some people with borderline hypertension are salt sensitive. There's salt hiding in most packaged and processed foods. Cut back on them, and hide the salt shaker.Season your food with herbs and spices instead.
  
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of potassium, which lowers blood pressure naturally. Eat a banana a day to keep your blood pressure under control - and snack on watermelon too. Watermelon contains L-citrulline, an amino acid that lower blood pressure in people with borderline hypertension.
  
• Substitute hibiscus tea for coffee. Find out more about how hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure.
• Take control of stress in your life. Stress causes release of hormones that constrict arteries and raise blood pressure. Exercise is a good stress reducer - but so is meditation, yoga and taking a walk outdoors in nature. Spend a little less time working and more time relaxing if you have borderline hypertension.
• Eat a DASH diet. A DASH diet is the diet plan most doctors recommend for people with hypertension. It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean protein and low-fat dairy foods - and de-emphasizes processed and packaged foods. Following a DASH diet can reduce blood pressure levels in as little as a few weeks.
  

Lifestyle changes can have a modest impact on blood pressure levels, and it may delay the onset of full-blown hypertension. In some cases, despite your best efforts, you'll need blood pressure medications. So be sure to follow-up with your doctor, and check your blood pressures regularly if you have borderline hypertension.