Five Ways to Lower BP in the Summer
It’s July, and with summer in full swing, there are ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Here are five of our favorite activities that can help lower your blood pressure.
1. Swimming
We’re starting the list with the ultimate summer activity. This low-impact exercise is a great way to stay cool in the heat and reduce stress. Stress can negatively affect your heart health and potentially lead to higher blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you haven’t been to the pool in a while, it’s recommended to start out with a beginner-friendly stroke-like freestyle.
2. Garden
Gardening is an unexpected way to add exercise into your life. It’s a moderate-level physical activity recommended by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to lower blood pressure. Plus, this activity allows you to spend time in nature and grow foods that contribute to an overall healthier diet. It’s a win, win, win.
3. Enjoy a Picnic
Speaking of food, picnics are a healthy way to spend an afternoon. Pack up delicious fruits and veggies, grab your friends and family, and spend time in the sunshine - it’s an instant mood booster. There’s a good chance you’ll be laughing with your loved ones, and laughter, as we all know, is the best medicine.
4. Outdoor Concert
Music is good for the soul, or so the saying goes, but recent studies show it can be good for lowering blood pressure too. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “In a study from Hong Kong, older volunteers who listened to relaxing music for 25 minutes a day for four weeks lowered their systolic pressure by 12 points and their diastolic pressure by 5 points”. With outdoor festivals popping up during the summer months, it’s the perfect time to attend a local concert.
5. Walking
There’s a reason so many people talk about walking. It’s a simple yet effective form of exercise. This study found that middle-aged adults who walked the most steps per day had a lower risk of high blood pressure compared to adults of the same age who walked far less. Get those steps in by taking a ten-minute stroll three times daily.
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