You have high blood pressure, but you also want to live long and healthfully.
It might seem like a paradox. But it isn’t. Because there’s something you can do live longer even with your high blood pressure. What could be it be though?
Physicians and natural health experts both agree on one thing for bringing down or managing high blood pressure – exercise. The importance of exercising regularly cannot be emphasized enough.
Researchers based in Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington conducted a study to assess how exercises influenced the quality of life in seniors.
About 2153 men took part in the study, and all of them were over the age of 70. The men were divided into four groups based on their fitness level which was assessed in the form of metabolic equivalents or METs.
Those who had very low level of fitness had a MET score between 2 and 4 while individuals with very high level of fitness had a MET score above 8. The others had scores between 4.1 and 8.
The participants were followed-up for a period of nine years. In the period, approximately 1000 men died due to various medical conditions. The researchers concluded that compared to those with very low level of fitness, those with low level of fitness had an 18 percent lower risk of dying.
Also those with moderate and high fitness had a 32 percent and 48 percent lower risk of dying (compared to those with the lowest level of fitness) respectively.
To give you a clear picture, for every 100 people who die in the very low fitness level, only 52 people in the very high fitness group would be at a risk of dying.
The study shows a direct correlation between the fitness level of an individual and mortality. The more fit a person is, especially at old age, the better are the chances of good health.
Exercising doesn’t always have to be intense routines in the gym or running marathons. Just walking for 30 minutes every day is a very good exercise in itself. Those who are already active should keep going, and those who haven’t started yet – this is the time to get going!
I’ve often wondered about this. I’ve friends who are in great shape but they seem to just naturally have high blood pressure. One has been beating off his doctors blood pressure medications for 30 years. Now I can tell them that maybe it’s not that big of a deal. Just stay fit.
This makes sense since walking for example increases blood circulation, which yes can rise blood pressure but is healthy at the same time.
I will be 80 sept I do stretching x trainer and ride my horse most days working on H BP so i hope you are right ?
I think about walking for 30 minutes and it doesn't help my bp at all; this story may be baloney.
I totally AGREE, Bob Suyak. I believe they just come up with this stuff because they need a topic to write about that sounds viable. So this type of advice is a "catch-all" for that sort of thing. Conversely, nobody ever seems able to explain how so many invalids frequently live to the age of the average life expectancy. Obviously, invalids cannot walk for exercise. And then again … I've known some very fit people who died relatively young of cancer …. and even heart disease. One of them was a healthy 58 year old female who died suddenly of a massive heart attack …. while she was swimming in her pool for exercise. I could go on about this subject …. but I'm sure you get my drift. Just follow the basics of not smoking, drinking only in moderation, maintain a healthy diet, and get regular medical check-ups. One's genetic make-up determines the rest.
I will be 70 in Sept. NEVER been on meds, NEVER been hospitalized, No operations, NO pain! Have weighed 130 lbs all my life. Make changes & adjustments as you get older. I gave up pork and beef in 1977, drank more water, started to exercise, and running. My thing is prevention, rather than repair. Chinese medicine is better by far (no chemicals)., accupuncture & herbs. Meds cause cancers, and kill! If you’re not on meds, please!, don’t start (only as a very, very, very last resort). It all starts with ONE! The body was not designed for chemicals, which is why there are reactions. One leads to another, and another, and another, before long you’re taking a dozen pills a day. I also started drinking bottled spring water (no tap, unless boiled). Get away from processed foods(or cut down). Also, don’t worry about anything!! Here’s to your health.
Is it true that Panax Ginseng can help to control Hypertension? Should I combine taking antihypertensive drugs with the Panax Ginseng? Will there be a drug interaction effect? I need your professional advice.