Healthy Body

Most people start to worry about high blood pressure when they hit their 50’s. Before that, only a few are concerned. The problem is that high blood pressure can start at any age, including in your teens. It is a bigger problem for teens because they have to deal with the disorder for a much longer period of time and are at risk for serious health problems much earlier if the condition is left untreated. That’s why it’s important for all parents to understand the risk of you teenage children developing high blood pressure.

In adults, there is a specific threshold at which you are considered to have high blood pressure. For children and teens, there is no magic number. Someone under the age of 18 is considered to have high blood pressure if their levels are 95% higher than other kids their age. The problem with this definition is that teen blood pressures are rising and your child could be at risk even if they are in a lower percentage.

The number of teens with high blood pressure is steadily increasing. Doctors think the link between this and the increasing size of teen’s waistbands is no coincidence. Obese teens are at a much greater risk for developing high blood pressure. However, helping your teen lose weight isn’t the only way you can protect them from this problem. If you’re worried about hypertension in your child, here are some things you can do to help them:

Get their blood pressure checked regularly. Even if your child’s blood pressure is normal, they should have a yearly physical to get it checked and have other tests performed. This way, if there is a problem, it can be caught early.

Get them on a healthy diet. While you can’t control everything your teen eats, you can serve them a diet with low sodium and lots of fruits and vegetables when their at home. You should also encourage them to make smart choices when they’re at school or friend’s houses.Â

Encourage them to exercise. You can go for family walks or take your teen to the gym with you. Not only will they look and feel better: it’s also gives you time to bond with them.

Help them relax. Just like adults, teen’s stress levels can be reduced through meditation, yoga, massage, and other similar therapies. It is also important to help your teen talk out their problems and help them realize they may not be worth stressing over. Just try not to trivialize the things your teen finds important.

Talk to them about not drinking and smoking. If your teen has high blood pressure, smoking and excessive drinking are more dangerous to them than other kids their age. Make your kids understand the dangers by talking to them often.

If your teen has a high blood pressure reading, don’t get worried just yet. Stress, injury, and other factors can cause blood pressure to rise, giving a higher reading. A doctor shouldn’t diagnose your child with high blood pressure unless they have taken readings on at least 3 separate occasions and they all came out high. At this point, they will probably recommend your child be treated with the lifestyle changes mentioned above.

If your teen has high blood pressure, they will need to pay special attention to their health for the rest of their life, but they can still live a long, happy, healthy life.

If you need to lower your blood pressure, but you don’t want to take prescription medications, the first step you should take is to make some changes in your diet. There are some small steps you can make that can add up to a big difference in your blood pressure. Here are 5 changes to try.

Cut Back on Salt. This is probably the most important change you can make to your diet if you want to lower your blood pressure. Instead of salting your food, experiment with different spices, sauces, and other seasonings. Just be sure to read labels and check the amount of sodium. Try cutting back on packaged foods that are higher in sodium and search for less salty options.

Go for the veggies. When our body has all the vitamins and minerals it needs, it can work more efficiently. This helps to lower your blood pressure along with improving functioning all over your body. Potassium is particularly important for lowering blood pressure. While you can always just get a comprehensive multivitamin, the best choice is to eat foods rich in certain vital substances. The best way to do this is by adding fruits and veggies to your diet. Try replacing some of the meat in your diet with these healthier alternatives. Just remember that meat has nutrients you need as well, so eat foods that will replace those nutrients as well.

Get more fiber. Increasing the amount of soluble fiber in your diet can not only lower your blood pressure, it can also lower your cholesterol, and help you lost weight naturally. You can add fiber to your diet by eating oat bran, apple pectin, or guar gum. A slightly more pleasant alternative would be fiber supplements. Just make sure to check how much of the content is soluble fiber.

Cut back on sugar. While scientists aren’t really sure why, eating processed sugars raises your blood pressure. You should cut back on eating sugar, or eat it with fiber or protein: they slow the absorption and lessen the effects.

Ditch the diet pills. While losing weight can help lower your blood pressure, stick to a healthy diet rather than taking pills. Many weight loss pills can actually raise your blood pressure. Losing weight the old fashioned way with diet and exercise is the best idea for lowering your blood pressure.

If you think these changes sound like too much for your taste, why not take them one at a time? You could also make changes in increments. For example, decide to replace one sugary or salty snack with a fruit of vegetable each day for a week. Once you’re used to one change, you can keep adding more until you’re comfortable and happy with your new healthy diet and lower blood pressure.