Aging over time is a beautiful experience, but it is solely up to us to adequately fuel our bodies for the long road ahead. It is impossible to live life effectively without maintaining a healthy well-being. There are many angles involved when discussing what exactly affects our overall health, one of which is blood pressure. As we monitor our blood pressure, we must first know what levels are healthy and unhealthy. Recognizing and regulating these levels will lead to a healthier lifestyle.

As your heart beats, it pumps blood through your body, providing your muscles with sufficient energy and oxygen. To do this, your heart pushes your blood through a network of blood vessels.

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic pressure, which is the pressure exerted when the heart beats, and diastolic pressure, which is the pressure exerted when the heart is relaxed between beats.

Normal diastolic levels in adults range from 60-80 mmHg, and normal systolic levels range from 90-120 mmHg. According to the American Heart Association, one in three adults has high blood pressure. The effects of high blood pressure can silently damage your body for years without symptoms occurring, so it is important to monitor your blood pressure regularly. Some effects include stroke, vision loss, kidney failure, sexual dysfunction, and heart failure.

It’s all about what you feed your body. Your diet and physical activity influences the fluctuation of your blood pressure. Foods with low sodium lessen the chances of developing high blood pressure. To change our actions, we must change our entire mindset about the importance of health. Remember that it will be a process and results may not happen immediately, but consistency always prevails! So, let’s try becoming more conscious of what we allow to enter our bodies.

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Written by: Dominic Ligon