You might not be thinking aboutyour blood pressureright nowbut you might want to.
“High blood pressure is a silent killer.
Diet choices and lifestyle habits play an important role in keeping blood pressure levels in the normal range.
Here are some of the top surprising factors Weisenberger sees that may be behind your rising numbers.
And sodium does play a role.
Increased blood volume means that there’s more coursing through vessels, which raises your blood pressure.
Potassium also helps to relax blood pressure wallsand more relaxed walls mean lower blood pressure.
Potassium is considered a nutrient of “public health concern” by theUSDA.
This is likely because just one in 10 adults are eating adequate amounts of produce, notes theCDC.
“People think that they can taste a high sodium food.
A good rule of thumb is to look at nutrition labels, specifically the percent daily value for sodium.
5% daily value is considered “low,” whereas 20% is considered “high.”
Go for options that have a lower amount of sodium per serving.
Read More:Best and Worst Foods for Healthy Blood Pressure
Restaurant dishes are other big culprits.
“It’s not going to be easy.
In addition, sleep also changes how you eat.
Poor sleep triggers changes in appetite hormones that prompt you to make less healthy choicesand overeat, explains Weisenberger.
Adults should consistently aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, per theCDC.
In reality, stress is more of a transient cause.
The ultimate goal would be to aim for a lifestyle that supports a healthy heart.
Like many other health measurements, blood pressure can be affected by several factors.
Evidence shows links between higher blood pressure and diet, sleep, alcohol and stress.
