Taming High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a leading risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure.

Blood pressure is the force of the blood in your body pushing against the walls of your blood vessels with each heartbeat. Problems occur when the force of blood flowing is consistently too high.

The systolic (top) number is the peak blood pressure, occurring each time your heart beats. The diastolic (bottom) number is the moment between each beat, when the heart is at rest. A blood pressure lower than 120 over 80 is considered normal, according to the American Heart Association.

Fortunately, high blood pressure can be prevented and managed with healthy lifestyle choices and medication, if necessary.

In addition, research shows that certain complementary therapies and stress-reduction strategies (such as meditation) can reduce blood pressure and be an adjunct to medical care.