A heart doctor has issued a warning to people who are taking medication for common health issues such as high blood pressure. Also known as hypertension, Dr Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says that whilst “prevention” may look “difficult” it’s easier than “treating heart disease.”
Thankfully, preventing the disease – which affects million world wide – can be as simple as making changes to your diet or doing more exercise – even if its light such as walking.
Do you have high blood pressure or cholesterol?
Urging people to try and add these simple changes into their daily routine to better their health, he issues a warning to people who are “prescribed medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol” to help them “avoid the risk of a heart attack and follow your doctor’s orders.
In his urgent warning, he cautions: “Take those medications, check your numbers and be sure that all those factors are well under control”, notes the Mayo Clinic News Network.
What are the risk factors of high blood pressure?
- your age – you’re more likely to get high blood pressure as you get older
- having close relatives with high blood pressure
- your ethnicity – you’re at higher risk if you have a Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian ethnic background
- having an unhealthy diet – especially a diet that’s high in salt
- being overweight
- smoking
- drinking too much alcohol
- feeling stressed over a long period
Cardiologist tips for a healthier life
In his tips, he says that people should try and consume more vegetables and fruits in order to get as many vitamins and minerals into their diet which will not only make them feel more energetic, but will help improve the health of your heart.
Where possible, select whole grains for fibre and nutrients and choose healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated options. One option great for this is avocado.
A gut doctor previously shared an avocado a day could keep the doctor away. Dr Steven Gundry says: “Avocados have become a trendy health food, but the truth is it’s an incredible superfood for your health.”
Urging people to “start incorporating it into your diet today”, he says they can “help you lose weight” adding: “Avocados help you absorb the nutrients in food” with it boasting “great monounsaturated fat and are rich in prebiotic fibres. These compounds actually help you lose weight.”
His other tips include eating low-fat proteins, lean meat, poultry, fish and legumes and reducing how much salt you put on your food to help lower blood pressure.
You can also have smaller portions and ensure that any treats you have are “occasional”, stressing everything in moderation is key. “Trying to eat healthier a little bit at a time, to move around through the day, avoiding sitting for too long,” the doctor concludes.