Top 6 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

For those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure -- or people concerned with their most recent blood pressure reading -- a New York cardiologist has some tips to lower those numbers.

There are many different recommendations about what is considered high blood pressure but David Friedman, MD, chief of heart failure services at Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream says generally a reading of 140 over 90 or higher when there isn’t an obvious underlying reason for high blood pressure is considered elevated. Generally a good blood pressure reading is between 120 and 130 over somewhere between 80 and 85, Dr. Friedman says.

February has been designated American Heart Month and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are encouraging people to take better stock of their blood pressure. Dr. Friedman suggests people do the following to lower their blood pressure:

• Eat a low sodium, low fat diet
• Exercise
• Stop smoking
• Cease any recreational drug use

Other things that can make a difference in a person’s blood pressure include getting into a better state of mind.

“Try to meditate,” Dr. Friedman says. “A lot of people like being spiritual on some level or finding a few minutes to do deep breathing exercises. There’s also yoga. There’s some data that suggest both that and even pet therapy on some level or another helps. Caring for others helps too -- kind of taking the stress off yourself and helping others also in turn helps yourself.”

People should also keep in mind Dr. Friedman’s advice that, “One high blood pressure reading does not hypertension usually make.” Some things that can affect your blood pressure reading include being in a rush to get to the doctor’s office, being hungry or having just finished a big meal. Consult your doctor if you think you may have high blood pressure.

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