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High blood pressure is an increasingly common affliction, and with it comes the increasing danger of unknowingly putting yourself at risk of new or increased blood pressure issues as a result of the use of over the counter medications as common as cold and flu medicines that are readily available.  How is it that medicines so commonly sold and easily acquired at the local pharmacy can have such dangerous potential? 

The answer is in the decongestants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that these drugs use in order to control some of the symptoms of the cold and the flu, such as a runny nose and sneezing.  Decongestants and NSAIDs unfortunately, commonly cause an increase in blood pressure as a side effect.

In fact, not only do you risk increasing your blood pressure when using regular medications that include decongestants and NSAIDs, but you may also cause a conflict with any blood pressure medications that you may be taking at the same time.

Examples of common decongestant ingredients that can cause blood pressure issues are:

• Phenylephrine
• Oxymetazoline
• Pseudoephedrine

Examples of common NSAIDs that can cause blood pressure issues are:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Naproxen (Naprosyn)
• Meloxicam (Mobic)
• Naproxen sodium (Aleve)

If you have a family history or personal history of high blood pressure, and especially if you are already taking blood pressure medication to control high blood pressure, it is very important that you be selective about the cold and flu medications that you choose.  Fortunately, some cold and flu medicine companies have recognized this issue, and have created products that have been specially formulated for people who already have high blood pressure.  By opting for these medications, you are making sure that your cold, cough, and flu relief is safe for the rest of your health.  The secret is that these products are free from decongestants, and therefore will not raise your blood pressure.

The following products are decongestant free, and are therefore safe for treating the symptoms of coughs, colds, and the flu, even when you already suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension:

• Coricidin HBP® Cold and Flu Tablets – a medication that uses antihistamines, pain relievers, and fever reducers to temporarily relieve symptoms such as aches and pains (including headaches), while reducing the fever commonly associated with colds and the flu.  These tablets also provide temporary relief of runny nose and sneezing caused by the common cold.

• Coricidin HBP® Cough and Cold Tablets – medication that uses antihistamines and cough suppressants to temporarily relieve the symptoms of coughing and minor throat discomfort that are frequently associated with the common cold.  This medication also temporarily relieves runny nose and sneezing from colds.

• Coricidin HBP® Maximum Strength Flu Tablets – medicine that uses antihistamines, pain relievers, fever reducers, and cough suppressants in order to achieve the temporary relief of cold and flu symptoms which include: coughing, runny nose, sneezing, aches and pains caused by the common cold or the flu.

Even with these medications available to you, it is important that you consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications.  Be certain to keep yourself informed regarding any blood pressure issues you have, and have your doctor and pharmacist help you in understanding the labels on your over-the-counter medicines so that you don’t inadvertently cause or worsen your high blood pressure.

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A positive lifestyle change is a great way for the average person to control their blood pressure.  However, what about pregnant women with high blood pressure?  Can having high blood pressure during pregnancy harm the unborn child? 

Yes.  High blood pressure can result in complications during pregnancy that can be dangerous to both the mother and fetus if left untreated.  There are different ways pregnant women with high blood pressure can help control their condition and reduce the health risks to the fetus.  That being said, not all pregnant women with hypertension put their baby and themselves in danger.  Many have healthy pregnancies without complications. 

How common is hypertension in pregnancy?  In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that problems with high blood pressure occur in 6 – 8% of pregnancy, over 65% of which are in women experiencing pregnancy for the first time.

What are the negative effects of hypertension?  The effects high blood pressure can have on a pregnancy may be mild or severe and could include:

• Damage to the kidneys and other organs in the mother

• Cause early delivery and low birth weight

• In serious cases, the mother can develop preeclampsia (toxaemia of pregnancy), a dangerous condition that can be fatal for both the mother and fetus.

What is preeclampsia?  This is a condition that usually develops in the 6th month of pregnancy and occurs from a combination of high blood pressure and kidney problems that cause protein in the urine of the mother.  Preeclampsia affects the placenta and can affect the kidney, liver and even the brain of the mother.

When it affects the brain, preeclampsia can cause seizures, a dangerous condition called eclampsica which is the second leading cause of maternal death in America.  Preeclampsia can also cause complications with the fetus including premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.

Preeclamspsia can be treated, but cannot be cured until the mother delivers the baby.  There is no known way to prevent the condition, but those who show signs can be effectively treated to reduce risks.

Who is at the most risk for developing preeclampsia? 

• Women with a pre-existing condition of high blood pressure prior to pregnancy

• Women who had preeclampsia or hypertension during another pregnancy

• Women who are obese

• Women who are carrying more than one child

• Women who become pregnant before the age of 20 and after the age of 40.

• Women with kidney disease, lupus, diabetes, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tips for controlling high blood pressure before becoming pregnant and while you are pregnant:

• Healthy Lifestyle - Make sure your blood pressure is checked regularly, you are an ideal weight, and live a healthy active lifestyle.

• Educate yourself – Talk to your doctor about your hypertension and find out what you can do to help prevent and reduce complications during pregnancy.

• Medications – If you are taking medication to control your blood pressure, find out if they are safe to take during pregnancy.  Don’t assume that they are safe, or will be dangerous and stop taking them without first consulting your doctor.

• Engage in regular medical care – when you are pregnant make sure you attend all regular checkups.

• Avoid alcohol and tobacco – this can increase blood pressure and harm the fetus.

• Discuss all medications with your doctor – Do not take any over-the-counter medications (even if you have a cold) without first consulting your doctor.  Cold and flu medication often contains decongestants that can increase blood pressure.

Remember, although hypertension can cause complications in pregnancy, many pregnant women with high blood pressure, and even those who develop preeclampsia, often have healthy happy pregnancies and give birth to healthy, happy babies.

For more information about blood pressure symptoms please visit The Blood Pressure Reduction Guide, where you can sign up for a free newsletter on lowering blood pressure naturally.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can have many negative affects on your health, leading to a number of dangerous illnesses including:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Kidney problems
• Blindness
• Dementia
• Death

High blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer”, because many who have it are oblivious to their condition until they experience a heart attack or stroke.  Regularly monitoring your blood pressure and making effective lifestyle changes to control hypertension, greatly reduces your risk of developing dangerous health complications, and can even help you avoid, prolong or reduce your need for medication.

The following are 10 ways you can effectively reduce your chances of developing serious complications related to high blood pressure:

1. Loose the extra weight – Did you know blood pressure usually increases with weight gain, and decreasing your weight by 10 pounds can help you lower blood pressure?  Thus, the more pounds you lose, and the closer you are to your ideal body weight, the better chance you have of keeping your blood pressure in check.  In addition, a healthy weight loss plan also improves the overall effectiveness of blood pressure medication

2. Regular exercise – Staying active is a great way to keep in shape and control blood pressure.  Engaging in regular exercise (a minimum of 30 – 60 minutes everyday or every other day) will help you decrease your risk of developing hypertension.

3. Improve your diet – Eating healthy by lowering your intake of foods that are high in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grain and low-fat dairy products, can do wonders for improving your blood pressure. 

4. Lower your salt intake – A diet rich in sodium can increase your blood pressure.  Salt is naturally found in many of the foods and beverages we consume.  Therefore, refrain from adding salt to food, limit your intake of processed foods, read the labels of the foods you buy, and eat more fresh foods so you can enjoy the natural flavor.

5. Drink alcohol in moderation – Drinking alcohol in moderation (a single drink – IE a glass of wine or beer per day) has its health benefits.  However, regularly drinking beyond moderation is detrimental to your health and blood pressure.

6. Steer clear of tobacco and secondhand smoke – The nicotine in tobacco raises blood pressure by at least 10 mm Hg.  Although this is only a temporary increase (lasting up to an hour), if a person is repeatedly exposed to nicotine, blood pressure can remain high constantly. 

7. Limit caffeine – Studies have found that regular caffeine drinkers have higher blood pressure compared to non-caffeine drinkers.  Therefore, if you can live without it, try cutting caffeine completely out of your diet.  If not, dramatically reduce your intake by drinking only one caffeinated beverage daily.

8. Reduce stress – People who suffer from chronic stress are at a high risk of developing hypertension.  If you lead a hectic lifestyle you need to take time out of your busy schedule to relax.  You can achieve this through breathing exercises, massage, getting proper sleep, venting emotions, thinking positively and having a sense of humor.

9. Visit your doctor regularly – Have a full physical and get your blood pressure checked regularly.  If you have hypertension you will probably need to learn how to self-monitor your condition.  This will help both you and your doctor find the best treatments for you.

10. Find support – There are many people who suffer from hypertension.  Befriending others with the same condition or joining a support group can be excellent treatment. Knowing you are not alone, and realizing that others care about your heath and well being, can help you find the encouragement you need to take better care of yourself. 

Do you enjoy wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages on a regular basis?  Do you drink a moderate amount of alcohol, or do you go over your limit?  Do you even know what the moderate amount is?  If you are not sure if you are exceeding a healthy alcohol limit, you could be putting yourself at risk of developing a number of dangerous health conditions such as high blood pressure.

How can alcohol affect blood pressure?  The answer to this question is still unknown, even though medical research has discovered that drinking alcohol excessively can cause blood pressure to rise.  That being said, it has also been found that regularly drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can actually help keep the body healthy and protect it from heart disease and stroke; conditions linked to high blood pressure.

Drinking in moderation
Before we get into how excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, first we’ll take a look at what is considered to be moderate drinking.  Drinking alcohol moderately is different for both men and women:

Men - 2 alcoholic drinks per day is considered sufficient for men up until the age of 65.  After 65, men should drink the moderate intake recommended for women.

Women - 1 alcoholic drink per day is considered sufficient for women.

A single drink is the equivalent of:
• 12 oz. of regular beer or lager (1 bottle or can)
• 5 oz. of wine (1 standard glass of wine)
• 1 oz. of spirits (1 shot of spirits)

If you are over exceeding the amount of alcohol that is considered sufficient for you on a regular basis, it is highly likely that your alcohol consumption is having a negative affect on your blood pressure and overall health.  In this case, it is imperative that you cut back.  By decreasing alcohol intake and drinking in moderation, a previous heavy drinker can actually lower their diastolic blood pressure by 1-2 points and their systolic blood pressure by 2-4 points.

People who drink alcohol excessively can raise their blood pressure to unhealthy levels.  Not only that, alcohol is also high in calories and can increase your weight.  Furthermore, if you are taking blood pressure medication, alcohol can increase the negative side effects of these meds.

On the other hand, if you are drinking moderately, the alcohol you ingest should not be having an affect on your blood pressure.  That being said, if you frequently indulge in binge drinking (drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in one sitting as is common on the weekend), drinking moderately on a regular basis can also increase your blood pressure.

Can people with high blood pressure still drink alcohol? 
Yes - The average person with high blood pressure and has no other complications can drinking alcohol as long as they stay within the recommended limits, even if they are on blood pressure medication.
No – Someone who has a damaged liver, is an alcoholic, has heart disease, or has already suffered a stroke, should not drink alcohol.

It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about whether or not moderate alcohol consumption is safe for you.  It’s also imperative that you have your blood pressure checked at least once a year by your doctor, at the local clinic, or any place that provides you the opportunity.  It is a simple, fast and painless procedure that can give you peace of mind. 

If you should discover you have high blood pressure, you can then take the right actions to help you avoid the serious complications associated with the condition.

For more information about the causes of and treatment for high blood pressure please Click Here.

A good diet, proper exercise, and relaxation techniques can keep your blood pressure at a normal, healthy level. But there’s something else that can increase it without you even knowing about it: sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the patient stops breathing many times while sleeping. It occurs in the deepest and most restful phase of sleep, the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. Your body basically “forgets” to breathe for 10 or 15 seconds, then reacts to the sudden lack of oxygen by jolting your respiratory system back into action. When this happens, it jars your sleeping, too, and you have to start over in the “light sleep” phrase. This constant interruption to the deep, restful REM sleep means that when you wake up in the morning, you don’t feel like you got enough sleep — because you didn’t! Not high-quality, restorative sleep, anyway.

So what’s the connection between sleep apnea and hypertension? It long ago passed the common sense test — obviously, brief periods of stressful near-asphyxiation can’t be GOOD for your heart. And in recent years, studies have begun to show a strong, provable, medical link between the two as well. Sleep apnea puts undue stress on the blood vessels. During an apnea incident, the sudden drop in oxygen levels forces your heart to work overtime to move the remaining oxygen around your system. This means an increased heart rate as well as increased blood pressure.

What’s worse, this is happening at night, when you’re asleep — the time when your body is supposed to be relaxing and repairing itself. If your blood pressure is constantly spiking during the night when you’re at rest, it’s not likely to settle down to a normal level during the day, when you’re actually up and around and exerting yourself. If your heart can’t rest when you’re asleep, when can it?

The dangers of high blood pressure are well known. But even without that, sleep apnea can be harmful in and of itself. Not getting enough restful sleep means being drowsy during the day, which can lead to poor job performance and falling asleep while driving. It leads to irritability, depression, headaches, and impotence, too. The additional strain on your heart during the night can also lead to strokes and heart attacks.

It’s estimated that 15 million Americans have sleep apnea, 75 percent of them men and 90 percent of them undiagnosed and untreated. Since the subject usually doesn’t know that he’s almost waking up constantly during the night, he may not realize he has sleep apnea. Some indications are daytime drowsiness, foggy memory, difficulty concentrating, waking up with headaches, sore throats or extremely dry mouth, and excessive sweating while sleeping. Most sleep apnea patients snore, too, and your bedmate can tell you if your snoring is irregular or if it sounds like you sometimes stop breathing altogether.

If you suspect you may suffer from sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about being tested at a sleep research facility. Sleep apnea is treatable, and doing so is vital to your overall health and well-being. Hypertension is just one of the many problems it can cause.

For more information about the causes of and treatment for high blood pressure please Click Here.

Biofeedback is a system that provides you with real-time information about your body — blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and skin temperature, for example — on the theory that if you are aware of this information, you can control it. You’re not usually aware of your heart rate, for example, so you may not know if it’s too high. Biofeedback makes you cognizant of it, thus allowing you to take measures to regulate it if necessary.

In recent years, people have begun to use biofeedback as a means of lowering their blood pressure. A biofeedback device called Resperate, helps people relax by slowing their breathing, which in turn reduces hypertension. There are other things you can do, too, that involve keeping tabs on your blood pressure and responding accordingly to keep it in check.

First is something called autogenic training, which involves learning to control body conditions such as muscle tension, heart rate, and blood flow. Much of this involves a mind-over-matter attitude. By seeing your blood pressure go up (through a monitor you can use yourself), you can identify the stressors that are causing it to happen. Then, having identified the things that cause your blood pressure to rise, you can take steps to overcome them, either by eliminating the stressors or learning to deal with them positively.

There is ample information on the Internet about autogenic training, including many stress-reducing exercises you can do from your desk or at work.

Another way to deal with hypertension through biofeedback is “temperature training.” Some research indicates that the temperature of your finger is an accurate indicator of your blood pressure. High stress causes your finger temperature to drop as the fight-or-flight response sends blood quickly away from the extremities and toward the vital organs. This means an increase in blood pressure — thus, lower finger temperature equals higher blood pressure.

There are devices you can buy that monitor your finger temperature. Then, with relaxation techniques and stress management, you can lower your blood pressure, which will manifest itself in a higher finger temperature.

These techniques usually won’t help people with extreme hypertension. Those who can benefit from biofeedback include people with normal-to-slightly-high blood pressure or mild hypertension, and those with a family history of high blood pressure who want to take preemptive measures against getting it themselves.

It should be stressed that while biofeedback and relaxation techniques can be helpful in reducing blood pressure, they are not to be substituted for a healthy diet, regular exercise and whatever medication your doctor has prescribed. Biofeedback should be in addition to those things, not instead of them. As a medical technique, biofeedback has proponents and detractors. It’s certainly not going to hurt your health, but it may not always help it, either.

To find a biofeedback practitioner near you, visit http://www.resourcenter.net/Scripts/4Disapi6.dll/4DCGI/resctr/search.html and enter your state. The database will then pull up a list of all the practitioners, along with contact information for them so you can find one suitable for your needs.

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If you’re one of the 65 million Americans with high blood pressure, you’re probably on medication and a modified diet aimed at reducing your hypertension and getting your blood pressure back down to a healthy level. To keep tabs on your progress, you’ll need to check your blood pressure regularly, and many patients find it helpful to get a blood pressure monitor to use at home.

Why test at home? For one thing, doctor’s visits are expensive and relatively infrequent. You can check your blood pressure yourself every day if you want to, from the comfort of your own home.

And “comfort” is important. Because seeing a doctor can be a stressful experience, it sometimes creates false readings in your blood pressure. By testing it at home, you can get a more accurate reading of what your day-to-day blood pressure is like.

The basic, old-fashioned type of blood pressure machine — where you put the strap around your arm and squeeze the bulb to inflate it — is called an aneroid monitor. They’re usually around $20 or $30, so they’re affordable, and they’re easy to use once you learn how. There are also digital monitors that measure your blood pressure automatically, making them faster and easier to use. Naturally, you pay a little more for this convenience; these devices range in price from $30-$100.

Both kinds have advantages and disadvantages. The aneroid version is cheaper, but the digital monitor is easier to use. The digital monitor can have its accuracy thrown off more easily, though, simply by moving your body during testing; the aneroid monitor is usually much more stable than that. Also, many digital models are designed to be used on the left arm only, which makes them impractical for some people.

Overall, however, the digital monitor is easier and more accurate. It deflates automatically, its numbers are easy to read, and some models even print out your results for you. It is also far less easily damaged than the aneroid monitor, which is a rather complex device with several parts.

There are some monitors on the market that take your blood pressure not on the upper arm but on the wrist or finger. So far, most of these are to be avoided. Not only do they cost more — usually upwards of $100 — but they tend to be inaccurate, too! The patient’s body position and temperature affect wrist and finger devices much more than the upper-arm devices, resulting in bad readings. Stick with the upper arm.

After buying a blood pressure monitor for your own use, you should take it with you to your next doctor’s appointment and have him or her (or the nurse) check it for accuracy against the device they have in the office. Take the monitor in for a “check up” every 12 months or so, to make sure it’s still accurate. Store it in a safe place, away from heat, and check it occasionally for leaks or cracks in the tubing.

By monitoring your blood pressure yourself, you can report your findings to your doctor and keep tabs on your progress as you try to reduce hypertension. It’s a way of staying involved in your own health, rather than letting your doctor do everything for you — and by staying involved, you’ll improve your health much faster.

If you want to keep a close eye on your blood pressure with a home monitor please Click Here for more information.

For people with high blood pressure, eating healthy foods that are low in sodium and getting plenty of moderate exercise are the best ways to reduce it naturally. Medication is usually necessary, too, as prescribed by a doctor. But there’s something else you can do, too, that will decrease your hypertension and help your overall health. It’s something you do constantly, but that you’re probably not doing properly. What is it? Breathing.

New research shows that breathing deeply and slowly every day for a few minutes can lower your blood pressure by several points. For people with hypertension, medication and lifestyle changes are still necessary; the deep breathing should be in addition to that, not instead of it. For people with normal blood pressure, deep breathing can help keep it normal.

Why does it work? Doctors are still figuring that part out. Deep, slow breathing does make the blood vessels relax momentarily, but that doesn’t account for the long-lasting drop in blood pressure.

But when you’re stressed and taking short, shallow breaths, that decreases the kidneys’ ability to get rid of sodium, which results in higher blood pressure. So one theory is that deep, slow breathing helps the kidneys do their job better, bringing hypertension down.

Regardless of why it works, it does work in most people. The general idea is to breathe deeply and slowly for about 15 minutes a day, decreasing your breathing from the normal 16-19 breaths a minute to less than 10.

To help hypertension patients accomplish this, a company called InterCure has marketed Resperate, a device that regulates your breathing in the described manner. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration and costs about $300. So far, it’s only available on the Internet, where it’s been for sale since 2002.

The device is simple. It looks like a portable CD player, including headphones and soft music. The device measures your heart rate and breathing patterns, and tones in the music prompt you when to inhale and exhale. It’s helped lower blood pressure in clinical trails, and many patients have reported success with it, too. Some people have even been able to lower their blood pressure so much with Resperate that they were able to go off their medication altogether — with their doctor’s permission, of course.

The question is, is it necessary? Resperate doesn’t actually do anything to you from a medical standpoint; all it does is tell you when to breathe. With the right self-discipline, you can do that yourself. Just sit in a relaxed position with your eyes closed, take a slow, deep breath, then exhale just as slowly. Repeat this for 15 minutes.

Still, Resperate is a helpful reminder. Just as a treadmill is more convenient than running around the block a few times, Resperate is handy for helping you breathe properly for a few minutes a day, which you might forget to do on your own if there weren’t a device sitting there, reminding you. It’s no substitution for diet, exercise, and medication, but it’s a nice supplement to those things. The best part: Assuming you’re breathing clean air, deep breathing has no possible side effects!

If you’re interested in trying out Resperate then please click here for more information.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about one in three Americans, with the percentage higher among certain groups. People over 40 are increasingly likely to develop hypertension, as are people who are overweight. As the number of overweight Americans increases every year, so does the number of Americans with high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can be treated with medication, but lifestyle changes may be necessary, too, with modifications in a person’s diet and exercise. Yet paradoxically, sometimes these lifestyle changes can make hypertension WORSE.

So, what’s safe for people with high blood pressure to do? What should you avoid?

First of all, generally speaking, getting a reasonable amount of daily exercise is almost always a good idea, especially for people with high blood pressure. In fact, not getting enough exercise is often a CAUSE of hypertension.

But the exception is that if your blood pressure is particularly high — above 180/110 mmHg — you shouldn’t do any intensive exercise until you’ve lowered it with medication. In addition, if you have heart disease or diabetes in addition to hypertension, your doctor may need to prescribe a different sort of exercise program for you.

For everyone else, including people with common hypertension, exercise can help you reduce your blood pressure. The basic program is 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days a week. “Moderate” means you want to work up a light sweat and be somewhat out of breath, but not gasping or unable to talk. Extremely vigorous sports like racquetball or basketball may be risky for people with hypertension, so talk to your doctor first.

It might take several weeks for this regimen to lower your blood pressure, so be patient. And if you haven’t exercised regularly in a while (or ever), you may have to work up to the 30 minutes a day. Try taking three brisk 10-minute walks for several days, then two 15-minute walks, then one 30-minute walk. Be sure to warm up before any exercise and cool down afterward.

Exercise will also help you lose weight, and losing weight is good for your blood pressure, too. So it’s doubly useful.

Remember, aerobic exercise is what will help your heart and your blood pressure. Weight training has health benefits too, of course, but it won’t be as helpful for hypertension. It can sometimes make the problem worse, particularly if you’re holding your breath when you contract your muscles.

From a dietary standpoint, it is always smart to eat healthy foods that are low in sodium, whether you have high blood pressure or not. Your doctor can tell you if the hypertension medication you’re on will react badly with any particular foods, but those cases are rare. Assuming you have no food allergies, a diet rich in grains, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy and modest amounts of meat and fish is healthy and will lower your blood pressure over time. Avoiding sodium and boosting your potassium intake is also helpful.

(The suggestions in this article are well-researched and represent the general consensus in the medical community, but you should always consult with your doctor before undertaking any lifestyle changes.)

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One of the most frustrating things about checking your blood pressure is that it can vary greatly not only from day to day, but from moment to moment. Blood pressure can, in a way, be compared to breathing—it varies depending on what you are doing at that particular moment. Lower or high blood pressure readings also occur due to the position of your body, your hormone level, and your overall health. However, you can still efficiently and effectively monitor your blood pressure at home, if you remember that variance is possible.

‘White coat’ syndrome is a term often used when speaking about high blood pressure and its variances. To understand this form of high blood pressure, you must also understand your own body. White coat syndrome specifically occurs to blood pressure levels that spike only when you visit a doctor’s office or have your blood pressure measured by a professional member of the medical community. Although this is a somewhat real phenomenon, white coat high blood pressure may not be simply a case of the nerves. Instead, you could be inaccurately measuring your blood pressure at home. Even if white coat syndrome actually is occurring, it is also important to look at overall trends in your blood pressure.

Spikes in blood pressure due to this condition may be nothing to worry about, but if they are exceedingly high, you should be concerned. This condition can also be fatal for someone who already has high blood pressure. Before you dismiss doctor’s office spikes, understand your own body and how it works. You may need treatment even if your blood pressure has previously seemed normal.

Blood pressure changes for a variety of other reasons as well. First, home test are not as accurate as some of the test you can use to regulate your blood pressure in a hospital setting. Inaccuracies occur frequently, and the packaging should be able to tell you how accurate the tests are. Even if they are not perfect, home blood pressure regulation is still very important—just remember that changes from one day to the next are ok if they are small. Monitor your blood pressure at the same time every day if possible, while you are doing the same activity. A good time is in the morning before you begin your day, but medications can also throw off your blood pressure, so if you take pills first thing in the morning, measure your blood pressure before that.

Drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or eating certain foods can also cause your blood pressure to spike momentarily. To more accurately get a reading of your blood pressure (as well as prevent high blood pressure), it is important to live a healthy lifestyle. If you smoke or otherwise introduce chemical substances into your body, doing so in moderation can increase your risk for high blood pressure, and also help you more accurately check it. Exercise also plays a huge role in blood pressure, so if you’ve recently been working out or doing other activity that has you breathing heavily, your blood pressure reading will be different than if you’re resting. Even standing up versus sitting down makes a difference in your blood pressure.

Remember that 30 or even 40 mm Hg differences during a day are not uncommon. More should result in you calling your physician to schedule an appointment for a more accurate reading. Blood pressure is sometimes difficult to regulate, but it is very important in understanding the overall health of your body.