If you’ve recently been diagnosed with hypertension, you may be faced with an array of difficult feelings that require you to make big changes to your lifestyle.
It’s important to recognize that this is normal; hypertension is a condition that comes with many risk factors such as heart attack and stroke and must be taken seriously to ensure you lead a happy and full life.
The good news is that this is easily doable. It just requires some self-application and plenty of planning.
It’s far from the end of the world, even if it seems like this is the case at the time. Any sadness, confusion, frustration, or anger will fade away in the future, and you’ll join the millions of other Americans who lead healthy and fulfilling lives while keeping their hypertension under control.
Here are some tips for helping you manage your hypertension. They’re worth a read if you need some guidance.
Talk it Through with Your Doctor
Your doctor can help you with your condition in a myriad of wonderful ways, so be sure to tell them how you’re feeling about the whole situation.
For example, they can help you come up with an exercise plan that suits your needs perfectly, and they’ll be able to recommend a diet too. If they can’t do this in enough detail, they’ll be able to point you in the direction of a dietician who can support you through any required dietary changes you might have.
Your doctor will likely be able to make you feel better about your circumstances if you tell them you’re upset, angry, or nervous. Plus, they will be able to direct you to a psychologist or a therapist if you feel you need the extra support.
Use the Right Equipment
There’s no need to try and tackle high blood pressure alone, not when there’s some great technology out there to make your life easier.
A dependable smart meter can make the medical management of hypertension easy. Some of the best monitors seamlessly connect to an app on your phone, allowing you to check and record your blood pressure daily without impeding on your lifestyle.
This minimally invasive bit of kit is extraordinarily useful in helping manage hypertension, and it can even aid your treatment plans, too, as it essentially helps determine their effectiveness.
There’s no need to struggle or feel like you’re on your own, so it’s always worth taking a look at the options you’ve got. Whether it’s technology, the support of your family, or both, you don’t have to go it alone.
Don’t Give Up Your Favorite Foods
Having been diagnosed with hypertension doesn’t mean you need to give up the foods you love, but it does mean you’ll need to pay more attention to what you’re eating and drinking.
A dietician can help you with this, and there are some great nutrition apps for Android and IOS that are worth looking into. Eating too much salt, not enough fruit and vegetables, and drinking too much caffeine can negatively impact your high blood pressure.
As long as you eat responsibly, monitor your levels, and recognize your limits, you shouldn’t need to worry about what you eat during your day-to-day.
You may need to adjust your diet slightly if you plan on exercising, but your doctor can advise you about this.
Keep Your Mind Healthy
Stress has the potential to affect your blood pressure, which in turn can lead to complications and negative effects for people living with hypertension.
Learning to manage stress is important in life, but it’s not always easy to do, particularly if you’ve never actively thought about it before.
If you’re feeling stressed out about your situation, it’s important to let your loved ones and your healthcare providers know. This way, you can start to build yourself a support network, one that is well aware of how you’re getting on.
Meditation can be a great way to lower your stress levels, and it’s incredibly easy to get into. Cutting down on screen time may also be able to help you reduce stress levels.
Remember Your Meds
It’s all too easy to forget to take meds from time to time, especially if you’re feeling good and you’re preoccupied with a busy schedule.
Taking your blood pressure medicine is essential, and you must follow the doctor’s guidelines to get the most out of your treatment.
If you have any questions at all regarding the nature of hypertension and what it means for your particular situation, then you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional as soon as possible. There’s no point suffering in silence, not when help is available.
