Monday, FitClub urged you to know your blood pressure numbers to prevent negative health conditions from creeping up on you. Today, FitClub has common sense steps you can take right now to start controlling your blood pressure. FitClub’s experts, Dr. Imoff and nurse Andrea Byrne are available if you need specific advice.
Image
Start today!
Examine your stress level and address it. Everyone has some degree of stress in their lives. Whether it’s work obligations, family schedules, or relationship anxiety, some degree of stress is unavoidable. When that stress begins to impact your health, though, there are ways that you can reduce and manage your day to day stress. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress, release endorphins and even reduce the severity of anxiety and depression. Meditation is also an easy to learn process that has dramatic impacts on the way stress is felt and stored throughout the body. New to meditation or interested in learning more techniques? FitClub has a meditation class on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 to 8:45AM at FitClub South You have nothing to lose but your stress!
Take a look at your diet. Radical dietary changes aren’t the only way to improve your health and reduce your blood pressure. Instead of avoiding change because it’s intimidating, or you’re worried about losing your favorite foods, look for ways that you can improve your diet gradually. Can you add more whole fruits and vegetables to your diet? Can you substitute lean protein like chicken or fish for red meat a few times each week? Can you reach for plain water when you’re thirsty instead of clinging to caffeinated or sugar-laden beverages? Adding more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and water to your diet has significant effects on your blood pressure and overall health. You don’t have to make radical overnight changes to make an impact. Start slowly, and challenge yourself to find delicious ways to incorporate healthy foods with each meal. You may discover a new favorite food!
Both fitness and diet are really important to your overall health, and especially your blood pressure. FitClub’s variety of machines and equipment and group exercise schedule make it easy to find an activity that you love and can stay with. Making exercise a priority everyday makes it a habit. Like brushing your teeth, it will be easier to fit into your schedule when it becomes a new healthy habit that you look forward to and don’t have to schedule. If you’re new to exercise or want to change up your routine, talk to a personal trainer at FitClub and find a routine that makes it easy to commit.
See a medical professional. If you’re at all worried about your blood pressure or have questions, be sure to take advantage of FitClub’s professionals on staff or ask your own medical professional. Blood pressure is too important to ignore or to not understand.
As you begin to incorporate these changes into your healthier lifestyle, be sure to check your numbers again. Andrea recommends taking your blood pressure before and after exercise to demonstrate the effect that exercise on your blood pressure. Remember that day to day fluctuations in blood pressure are completely normal and every step you take is progress.
Have questions about what your numbers mean or how you can begin to improve your blood pressure? Don’t wait, ask in the comments or stop in to see the professionals at FitClub!
