The best way to stay fit and healthy is to eat well, get enough exercise, and enjoy a good night’s sleep. However, when this isn’t possible, we rely on supplements to give our health a little extra boost. While most supplements are beneficial, some can be hazardous to those with high blood pressure!
Know your blood pressure levels
With today’s fast pace of living, more than 30% of the world’s population has high blood pressure, a condition that can be caused by stress, poor lifestyle choices, and genetics. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes, among other health concerns, but can usually be managed with lifestyle changes and medication.
On the other side, low blood pressure can also affect your health. Low blood pressure can lead to dizziness and fainting which could cause physical injuries and, in extreme cases, can lead to shock which can also be life-threatening.
Unfortunately, there are no clear symptoms for high or low blood pressure. By the time you’re experiencing symptoms, you’ve most likely been living with the condition for a while, so it’s important to check your blood pressure regularly, especially if there’s a family history of high blood pressure or your lifestyle places you at risk.
What are supplements?
Following a diet that includes all the nutrition your body needs to function is ideal. However, many of us rely on dietary supplements, like vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements, to add some extra needed nutrition and support that we might be lacking because of a hectic lifestyle or dietary restrictions due to health concerns.
While supplements can be a smart addition to boost your health, dietary and herbal supplements don’t go through the same medical trials that other over-the-counter and prescription medicines do. This means you might end up with supplements that contain unspecified ingredients or supplements that just aren’t effective. A bigger concern however is the fact that supplements can affect your blood pressure or it can interfere with medication aimed at lowering or maintaining your blood pressure.
Are supplements good or bad?
For the most part, supplements can improve your health. While some supplements can help regulate or lower your blood pressure, others can drastically raise your blood pressure or, if you take medication for the condition, it could interfere with your medication making it less effective. It’s very important to discuss any supplements with your healthcare provider before you start taking them.
More research on the effects of supplements is necessary; however, current research suggests that while additional supplements are unlikely to lead to the development of high or low blood pressure or increase your risk for it, they can definitely affect those who already have these conditions, whether they are aware of it or not.
While vitamins are good for you, excessive levels of Vitamin E, Vitamin D and Vitamin K can all interfere with other medications and lead to high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias. Some other supplements to avoid if you already have high blood pressure include:
Of course, some supplements can help decrease your blood pressure, so it’s worth discussing adding these supplements to your diet to help you manage the condition. These include:
Conclusion
While these supplements might help manage your blood pressure, they should never be substituted for medication prescribed by a medical professional. Nutritional supplements can go a long way to improve your health, but always talk to your healthcare provider first!
