Exercise Your Way To a Healthy Blood Pressure
Submitted by: Jen Brandt, M.Ed., Assistant Director of Recreation and Wellness

Researchers who recently reviewed more than 50 studies of the effects of exercise on blood pressure have only one thing to say to those of us who are dedicated couch potatoes: Get moving. High blood pressure (hypertension) can damage blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Your blood pressure is too high if it's 140/90 or higher.

Health experts recommend a half-hour to an hour a day of brisk physical activity on most days of the week. If you don't currently have high blood pressure, this amount of exercise will help you avoid it as you get older. It will also help you avoid type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and weight-gain. Another excellent way to bring down blood pressure numbers: eat a low-sodium diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

For more information about hypertension and preventive measures, visit the website "Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure," sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Lung, and Blood Institutes, at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 136, Pg. 493