Thursday, 26 January 2023 | 19:15
Aulia Hafisa
Controlling high blood pressure (SHVETS production/ Pexels)

TheIndonesia.id - If you have high blood pressure, you might want to take medication to bring the numbers down. However, lifestyle takes a vital role in treating it. Controlling your lifestyle might prevent, delay, and reduce the need for medication. 

Blood pressure is an important indicator of body health. If someone has high blood pressure, it can be an early sign that something is wrong with the body, which can trigger other chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke.

Here are the 5 ways to lower blood pressure without medication, quoted from Medical News. 

1. Reduce Salt (Sodium) in Your Diet

Foods that require a long process and preservation can increase blood pressure, moreover, preservation usually uses salt and sodium. This makes many people not realize that they are consuming twice as much salt as the daily limit.

2. Eat High Potassium Vegetables and Fruits

Potassium functions to reduce salt levels in the body. Potassium can be obtained from bananas, sweet potatoes, green vegetables, oranges, avocados, melons, and nuts.

3. Reduce Caffeine

Caffeine has been shown to increase blood pressure because it activates the nervous system to work faster. That's why some people complain that their heart beats faster after consuming coffee.

Caffeine also makes it difficult for people to sleep. Meanwhile, sleep is necessary for the body so that blood pressure remains healthy and normal.

4. Exercise Routine

Many people are reluctant to exercise, even though this method is good for lowering high blood pressure. Through exercise, more calories will be burned through sweat, reducing the cholesterol blockages in blood vessels that cause high blood pressure can be eroded.

5. Lose Weight

Instead of prescribing medication, doctors will usually recommend weight loss as the first way to lower blood pressure.

Body fat can increase high blood pressure, especially if fat is already concentrated in the heart, which makes the heart work extra to pump blood and causes high blood pressure.