Blood pressure or hypertension is the pressure of the blood against the walls of the arteries. It results from two forces. The first is created by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system and the second is the force of the arteries as they resist the flow of blood.

Here are a few simple ways to prevent and or / manage hypertension.

Healthy Eating

Reduce consumption of foods containing cholesterol, sugar and fat. Sugar results in easy weight gain, a major cause of high BP. It is also important to reduce your intake of salt. Aim for less than 1 teaspoon of salt a day. If you suffer from high BP, have even less. Avoid junk and processed foods that contain a lot of salt. Avoid pickle, soya sauce, tomato sauce and potato chips that are all high in salt. Eat more fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy foods and foods rich in potassium like bananas, potatoes, citrus fruits, wheat grass and barley grass.

Maintain Healthy Weight

Being overweight increases your risk of developing high BP, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. Losing weight can help you lower your blood pressure.

Physical Activity

Increasing levels of physical exercise can help control or prevent high BP as it helps you manage your weight. Start at a rate you are comfortable with and be regular. Pranayam, with other yoga techniques, is considered to be very helpful in managing BP

Limit Alcohol and don't smoke

Excessive alcohol can increase BP and harm the liver, brain and heart. Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the hardening of arteries.

Hypertension is also known to lead to acid reflux which is a major cause for hypertension to aggravate and reach alarming proportions, control your blood pressure today  with controlled diet and strict exercise regimen.