6 Ways Meditation Can Reduce Your Risk of Developing Hypertension
High blood pressure, often referred to as hypertension, is a common problem that puts seniors at risk of serious health problems. The strain on the cardiovascular system can lead to stroke, heart failure, and even death if left untreated. Seniors may use a variety of strategies that can help in reducing their risk of developing hypertension and improve their ability to manage the condition, including engaging in regular meditation.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension is a disorder of the cardiovascular system in which blood pressure exceeds normal levels. Blood pressure is determined by two components: systolic and diastolic. Systolic measures how much force the heart emits during contraction, while diastolic measures how much force remains in the arteries between beats.
When either or both numbers are higher than they should be, it's considered hypertension and requires regular monitoring to stay healthy.
How Does Meditation Help in Reducing the Risk of Developing Hypertension?
Meditation, a type of mindfulness practice that focuses on breathing and remaining still in order to achieve mental clarity, has been shown to be an effective tool for lowering blood pressure levels. In fact, there are several ways that meditating can help in reducing the risk of developing hypertension:
1. Lowering Stress Levels
It is no secret that stress can wreak havoc on our bodies in the long run. Studies show that seniors who meditate often have significantly lower rates of stress hormones circulating than their non-meditating peers.
2. Improving Sleep Quality
One major component of living a healthy life is getting good rest. Meditation encourages deep sleep, making it easier to fall asleep quickly and stay soundly throughout the night.
3. Increasing Relaxation
When we enter into a relaxed state through meditation, our body naturally releases endorphins. This can help reduce overall stress and improve that feeling of relaxation throughout the day, even once the meditation session is over.
4. Improving Heart Health
As hypertension increases strain on the cardiovascular system over time, meditation helps alleviate that strain by reducing inflammation. It may help strengthen the heart muscle, improve circulation, as well as improve breath control during exercise.
5. Calming the Nervous System
With regular meditation practices comes less reactivity towards situations or people due to its calming nature. Often, agitation and frustration can cause a significant blood pressure response, including narrowing arteries. By engaging in regular meditation, many seniors find that they can reduce those symptoms and handle potential stressors more effectively.
6. Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Reducing stress and anxiety through meditation can help seniors learn how to handle stressful situations more effectively. This can also prevent overwhelming the body with cortisol, which may help decrease the ongoing risks associated with high blood pressure. Often, regular meditation helps seniors reduce the potentially damaging effects of anxieties, daily fears, as well as ongoing stress.
Do You Need Additional Support Managing Stress?
Hypertension is a very real risk that many seniors face today. It can bring with it substantial long-term effects, including damaging health impacts. That's why it's essential to explore different methods that can help in reducing the risk of developing hypertension before things become too serious.
Meditation has been proven to be an effective therapy for reducing blood pressure levels. It helps relax the body and steady its response in even the most chaotic situations. With mindfulness meditation practices taking no more than 20-30 minutes per day, it's easy enough for any senior to incorporate them into their lives as part of their weekly routine.
For seniors in the St. Petersburg, Gulfport, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, and Treasure Island areas, Senior Helpers of St. Petersburg can also help with stress reduction. Contact us today to learn more about our in-home care services and how we can support you or a senior loved one in your life.