05/17/2023
Good morning everyone,
Today’s post is a little long, but I feel it’s worth reading to the end! 
Today is World hypertension day.
Hypertension is a public health epidemic in this country! It is estimated that approximately four in 10 adults over the age of 25 have hypertension. 
Today’s focus is to encourage people to leave their bad habits behind and promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent or control hypertension. So what can you do?
If you drink alcohol on a daily basis,stop. Drinking alcohol increases blood pressure and repeated drinking causes sustained high blood pressure.
Develop a healthy exercise routine, get off the couch, and get outside. With the nice weather on the way, it’s a good opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine while getting your daily exercise. It is recommended that you should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.
Try to reduce fat from your diet. Skip the extra butter and gravy. Some good options are to replace butter with avocado, applesauce, or low fat yogurt. Theses are healthy, yummy alternatives! 
Remember how your mom used to make you eat oatmeal every day? Well, she was right. Oatmeal is good for cholesterol! It can be topped with low fat yogurt and Berries. Oats are also full of fiber, which helps to keep you feeling full for longer. This can help to eliminate, snacking during the day and reaching for that fast, food or unhealthy snacks. 
Weight control is key. Try to maintain a healthy weight. 
Stress can also lead to hypertension. The body releases a surge of hormones when under stress. These hormones cause the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to narrow.  Meditation is a great way to reduce stress and help to lower your blood pressure. Getting enough sleep, and time management skills can also help to reduce stress.
Just a few simple lifestyle changes can make all the difference in the world! 
Have a HEALTHY day!
😊❤️

