Throughout the United States, many people are living with high blood pressure. This condition is otherwise known as hypertension. In fact, one study found that nearly 75 million people living in the U.S. suffer from having high blood pressure. This means one in every three adults is living with hypertension. Therefore, it’s understandable to want a solution to this problem. With that in mind, here are five smart ways to help lower your blood pressure.

• Lower Your Stress Levels
  
  For many, stress is a natural part of life. Considering that, it’s understandable for someone to not know when stress has become too much. If you’re feeling stressed out every day, this could cause your blood pressure to increase. Many recommend noting what causes you to feel stressed out. Knowing your stress triggers can help you to begin avoiding these situations. In addition, take time for yourself each day to engage in relaxing activities.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight
  
  One of the leading causes of high blood pressure is obesity. As your weight increases, blood pressure numbers also become higher. People who are overweight tend to place increased amounts of strain on their organs including the heart. A recent study found that hypertension diagnoses are more common now than ever before. Currently, the average American in their 50s has higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels than their parents’ generation had. You can reduce your weight by exercising and maintaining a healthy diet.
• Begin an Exercise Program
  
  You’ve learned how your diet affects your blood pressure levels. That being said, you’ll also want to consider starting an exercise program. There is a myth that exercise regimens take up a lot of time. In most cases, exercising just 30 minutes per day can make a huge difference. Many people who begin exercising per doctor’s orders find they love how it feels to be fit.
• Reduce Your Intake of Alcoholic Beverages
  
  Many adults enjoy an alcoholic beverage at the end of a long day. However, it’s important that you keep an eye on how many alcoholic beverages you consume. This isn’t to say that drinking any alcohol is dangerous. Numerous studies have found that small amounts of daily alcohol can actually lower your blood pressure. However, drinking more than one alcoholic beverage per day increases your blood pressure levels.
• Receive a Hypertension Screening
  
  Unfortunately, many people living with high blood pressure are unaware it exists. With that in mind, you’ll definitely want to consider receiving a hypertension screening. This is one of several types of preventive health screening services. The goal of preventive screening is to detect illness in its earliest stages. If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, you’ll already be in a medical environment. After receiving your heart health screening results, professionals can create a plan to lower your blood pressure.

To summarize, there are several great ways to lower your blood pressure. Hypertension remains a major problem in the United States. In addition, hypertension can lead to someone suffering from many ailments including a heart attack. Statistics show that an astounding 735,000 people in the United States suffer from a heart attack each year. Unfortunately, many people living with hypertension don’t know they have it. This is one reason why disease screening remains so important. If you want to find out about your blood pressure levels, consider receiving a hypertension screening.