Diabetes: Keeping Your Heart Healthy
6 tips to lower your blood pressure
Did you know that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is more likely to impact someone with diabetes? For 1.5 million Veterans with diabetes, this means a higher risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.
Whether you’re managing diabetes, hypertension, or both, we have tips to help you stay healthy.
Lower your blood pressure
Hypertension is blood pressure that stays high over time. Most people with it feel fine. The only way to know you have hypertension is to check your blood pressure. These 6 tips can lower your blood pressure, which can protect your kidneys and heart:
Eat heart-healthy foods: Follow a low-salt eating plan like the DASH diet.
Get active: Try more activities that raise your heart rate, like a brisk walk or working in the yard. Aim for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of exercise each week.
Achieve a healthy weight: Safely losing weight helps lower blood pressure.
Stop smoking: Ask your doctor about counseling, medication and other ways to quit.
Limit alcohol: Alcohol can raise blood pressure. Make sure you’re drinking safely.
Manage stress: Stress makes your heart work harder. Try meditation or yoga to manage stress.
Your doctor may also prescribe blood pressure medicine. Next time you see your doctor, make a list of questions to discuss the right plan for you.
My HealtheVet can help
Tracking your blood pressure over time can help you stay in control of your health. Use My HealtheVet's Track Health feature to monitor your blood pressure and food journal to track what you're eating. Reach out to your health care team with Secure Messaging to discuss your blood pressure readings or lifestyle changes.
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