snowy

With existing hypertension, you should probably avoid overly strenuous exercise off the bat. Start by walking for 30 minutes every day, and consider taking up yoga.

And a few more pieces of nutrition advice:

--Eat more whole grains.
--Eat more fruits and vegetables.
--Cut back on meat, especially red meat and meats high in fat. Eat more beans and legumes instead.
--To reduce sodium intake drastically, stop eating processed foods, and stop eating out. Also, be careful when using canned vegetables and beans; both often have salt added. Look for low sodium alternatives, or give the canned item a good rinse before using to remove excess sodium.

EDIT: Also, are you on any OTC medications that might raise your blood pressure? I was dealing with a cold earlier this year and using Afrin; the active ingredient in the Afrin caused my blood pressure to go through the roof. Once I quit using it, it returned to normal quickly.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau