{"id":26527,"date":"2021-07-19T06:06:22","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T06:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medical.andonline.com\/?p=26527"},"modified":"2023-05-25T02:59:57","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T02:59:57","slug":"heart-health-for-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medical.andonline.com\/heart-health-for-her\/?lang=ce","title":{"rendered":"Heart Health for Her"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Heart Health for Her<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section>\n

Women do a lot to take care of everyone else, which is why their own health sometimes takes a backseat. This is just one of the reasons why there\u2019s a fair amount of confusion and misinformation surrounding women\u2019s heart health.<\/p>\n

One common misconception is that high blood pressure is more common in men, but\u00a0close to half of adults with hypertension are women. In fact,\u00a0women over 65<\/a>\u00a0are more likely to have high blood pressure than men.<\/p>\n

If those stats have you startled, don\u2019t panic. While women may have some serious hurdles when it comes to heart health, there are also some simple solutions. Check out a few of these factors that can impact women\u2019s blood pressure and some heart health tips to reduce your BP.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

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Catch some zzz\u2019s<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a not-so-fun fact \u2013 women have more\u00a0trouble sleeping<\/a>\u00a0than men. From there, the news only gets worse since women actually need about\u00a020 more minutes<\/a>\u00a0of sleep each night due to their increased brain activity during the day (Sorry, guys. It\u2019s science). This loss of sleep makes it harder to concentrate during the day and manage stress, which in turn can elevate your blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Now for the good news. Getting a good night\u2019s sleep can start with\u00a0simple changes<\/a>\u00a0like banishing all electronics from the bedroom and establishing a consistent bedtime and wakeup time (yes, even on the weekends). Keep in mind that everyone has restless nights every now and then, so don\u2019t stress, stick to your plan, and you\u2019ll be on your way to bright-eyed mornings and healthier heart.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

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Get moving<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

>p>Another way to get a good night\u2019s sleep is to ensure that you have enough physical activity in your day. Exercise is also one of the best ways to lower and maintain a\u00a0healthy blood pressure<\/a>. So, think of this as hitting two birds with one stone.<\/center>

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Cardio activities like walking or running are great options, but don\u2019t forget to include some resistance (weights) to your workout too. Women, for various reasons,\u00a0tend to skip the weights at the gym<\/a>. To put it bluntly, that\u2019s a huge mistake. In addition to lowering your blood pressure, adding just a few minutes of weight training to your routine can improve your metabolism and ward off osteoporosis.<\/p>\n

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Talk about it<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Did you know that women are more than\u00a0twice as likely<\/a>\u00a0as men to develop an anxiety disorder? If left untreated, this can lead to serious damage caused by\u00a0blood pressure spikes<\/a>. Stigmas are still very much a problem when it comes to seeking help for mental health, which can stop some from seeking help.<\/p>\n

If you do suffer from anxiety, talking about it can be the first step towards improvement. Confiding in a close group of friends can help to\u00a0reduce stress<\/a>. If you\u2019re still feeling anxious, talk to your doctor. They can help you get to the root of what\u2019s causing your anxiety and help plan a course of treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

Self care \u2260 selfish<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Women, especially, face both internal and external guilt when it comes to self care. But taking time for yourself is necessary to maintain not only your physical health but\u00a0your\u00a0mental health<\/a>\u00a0as well. And both can have a direct impact on your blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Self care doesn\u2019t have to be a day at the spa or a weekend away from the family. Although, it can be.\u00a0Smaller things<\/a>, like daily meditation, yoga, or writing in a journal, can help keep you centered and healthy. Basically, it can be anything that allows you to disconnect, de-stress, and check-in with you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

To review, there are many ways to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level, ladies. At the heart of each one of them is one basic idea:\u00a0put yourself and your health first. It may seem selfish. It\u2019s not. By putting your health first, you\u2019ll be able to better help others. That\u2019s a win for you, your blood pressure, and everyone else.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>