Blood Pressure

Today's fast past lifestyle is enough to raise anyone’s blood pressure. House prices are rising, food costs are rising, rising rates of disease, raising children, the only things that aren’t rising are salaries and interest rates, and combined, that’s enough to raise anyone’s blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a condition in which the pressure exerted by the blood on artery walls is abnormally high, potentially causing artery damage and health problems over the long term. It affects up to 1 in 5 New Zealanders and is a significant contributor to the incidence of heart disease and stroke.  

Blood pressure varies throughout the day in response to factors such as excitement, stress and exercise, and it increases as we age. It is generally recommended that men over 45 years and women over 55 years should have their blood pressure checked regularly, along with the following groups of people;

·         Those who have had a stroke, heart attack, high blood cholesterol or diabetes

·         Those who have a history of high blood pressure

·         Those who are overweight

·         Pregnant women

·         Women taking oral contraceptive medications

·         Those who have a family history of heart disease

Poor diet, high body mass index, physical inactivity, excess alcohol and smoking, account for 60% of life lost to cardiovascular disease, with 1 in 6 NZ adults taking high blood pressure medication. Medications are often required on a long term basis and can come with side effects such as: fatigue, cold extremities, cough, skin rash, impotence and light-headedness.

So before you jump on any pill popping journey you might want to find a healthy diet and lifestyle balance and start reducing your risk early; preventative heart care is the best form of defence.

Include a natural supplement like Nature’s Sunshine HSII, formulated to support the cardiovascular system and healthy blood pressure. It has circulatory properties that may benefit the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle and support overall cardiac function and health.