ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — About 108 million Americans struggle with high blood pressure. It’s a problem that can raise your risk for heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical conditions. The good news is you can lower your blood pressure with some simple diet changes. Find out what foods to choose.

Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure! Estimates show at least one in three Americans should be on blood pressure meds.

Daniel Munoz, MD, a cardiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said, “Medications can be tough to take. They can be complicated to take, particularly the more medications somebody is prescribed.”

But you can fight this common health threat with what you eat! First: include foods rich in Vitamin C like bell peppers, cherries, and grapefruit. One study found people with high blood pressure who ate foods high in Vitamin C reduced their readings by five millimeters of mercury. Salmon and flaxseed contain omega-threes which have been shown to lessen inflammation and lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids that have blood pressure lowering effects. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which has been linked to reductions in blood pressure. Also, despite their bad rap, eggs, have been shown to lower both blood pressure and cholesterol in recent studies. Just remember not having high blood pressure can lead to overall better health.

“A dramatic improvement and benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke,” stated Mark Supiano, MD, a geriatrics investigator at the University of Utah Health.

The American Heart Association recently lowered their definitions of high blood pressure. They used to define it as 140 over 90, but now a blood pressure reading is considered high if it’s 130 over 80 or above.

The post HealthWatch: Can Food Lower Blood Pressure? appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

(HealthDay)—Millions of Americans with high blood pressure are at risk of heart attack and stroke, but just a few changes might cut that risk.

“In February, American Heart Month, we encourage all Americans to take control of their heart health by better understanding and monitoring their blood pressure levels and making healthy lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce their risk of serious health consequences associated with high blood pressure,” said Dr. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association (AMA).

“High blood pressure is the nation’s leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke, yet an overwhelming number of U.S. adults are living with uncontrolled high blood pressure,” Harris said in an association news release.

In honor of American Heart Month, the AMA provided six tips for improving heart health:

• Know your blood pressure. Understand what your numbers mean and how you can get your blood pressure under control.
• Follow a treatment plan to manage your high blood pressure. Work with your doctor and commit to realistic lifestyle changes.
• Get active. Healthy adults from ages 18 to 65 should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.
• Eat less processed food. Try to stay away from foods with added sodium and sugar. Instead, eat more plant-based foods and foods that are rich in potassium (these include bananas, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, avocados, greens, tomatoes).
• Keep your weight under control. If you’re overweight, take steps to shed a few pounds. Being 20 or more pounds overweight can put you at risk.
• Consume alcohol in moderation, if at all. According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderation is defined by women having up to one drink per day and men up to two.

The post Your best bet against heart attack, stroke? Lower blood pressure appeared first on MyMedicPlus.