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9. Reduce Your Stress Levels
Stress is responsible for many health problems, including elevated blood pressure. Stress can make you gain weight, as the stress hormone cortisol plays a role in adding inches to your waistline. Furthermore, if you are stressed you are more likely to eat more, drink alcohol and smoke, which further increases your blood pressure.
Regular exercise can help you feel better physically but also emotionally. Physical activity relieves stress because it causes your brain to release feel good chemicals — dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, etc. — during your workout.
You could also try a few stress management techniques, like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or tai chi, and keep up with at least one of them on a regular basis. You may also want to keep a journal to understand your stress triggers, so you can take action and avoid them.
Read more about the DASH diet for high blood pressure and letting go of stress over at NewLifeOutlook.
Resources
DASH Shopping ListThe American Journal of Clinical NutritionMenopause - NewLifeOutlookMayo Clinic (High Blood Pressure (hypertension))Prevention.com (13 Ways to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally)
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