High blood pressure
Have you been told that your blood pressure is too high? Perhaps you feel fine otherwise and are wondering what to do about it. High blood pressure often causes no obvious symptoms. Nevertheless, it is important to take it seriously, as it can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. You don’t have to change everything all at once. Healthy habits can help to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk. These include exercising and eating a healthier diet with less salt. Not smoking, reducing stress and cutting down on or avoiding alcohol can also help to lower your blood pressure. Your GP remains an important part of your care and treatment.
What do you notice?
Many people notice little or nothing of high blood pressure. As a result, it can feel as though nothing is wrong.
Sometimes you may notice things that are mainly related to your lifestyle or fitness, such as:
- little energy;
- to get out of breath quickly;
- experience a lot of stress;
- poor sleep;
- little exercise;
- tension in the body;
- excess weight;
- unhealthy eating habits;
- difficulty in changing habits.
These symptoms do not automatically mean that you have high blood pressure. Blood pressure must always be measured and assessed properly.
What might be the reason for this?
High blood pressure can be caused by various factors. Age, genetic predisposition and health all play a part. Lifestyle can also have an influence.
Factors that can contribute to high blood pressure include a lack of exercise, being overweight, a high-salt diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress and poor sleep. Sometimes, medication or other medical conditions may also play a part.
As the cause varies from person to person, it is important that your GP is involved. A healthy lifestyle can help to lower blood pressure, but sometimes medication is also necessary.
What can you do yourself?
There is a lot you can do yourself to help manage your blood pressure. Start with small steps that fit into your daily routine.
For example, you could:
- go for walks, cycle or do some gentle exercise more often;
- use less salt;
- eating more vegetables, fruit and wholemeal products;
- to give up smoking;
- drink no alcohol or drink less alcohol;
- working towards a healthy weight;
- plan more time for relaxation.
Don’t try to do everything at once. A small change that you stick to is more valuable than a strict plan that you give up on quickly.
When is it advisable to seek help?
Always discuss high blood pressure with your GP. Your GP can assess what your blood pressure means and whether monitoring or treatment is required.
Contact your GP or the GP out-of-hours service immediately if you experience chest pain, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, confusion or sudden severe symptoms.
How Rondom can help
We help you develop healthy habits that can influence your blood pressure. In doing so, we focus on exercise, diet, sleep, stress, alcohol, smoking and recovery.
A lifestyle coach can help you choose achievable steps and stick to them. A physiotherapist can help you move safely and build up your fitness. If you are feeling stressed or worried, it can psychological support should be appropriate. A occupational therapist can help if energy levels, workload or daily routine are a factor.
We provide care to complement the medical check-up carried out by your GP.
