15-minute ‘stretch’ LOWERS blood pressure (Study)

When it comes to controlling your blood pressure – especially if your doc has deemed it “high” – it’s never about what you can DO to lower it…

It’s about what you can TAKE!

Nearly 34 million Americans take some kind of blood pressure prescription medication.

That’s more than the population of Texas!

And I’ll bet you that millions of those people don’t NEED to be on then!

Well, if you’re teetering on that delicate line of “high” vs. “normal” blood pressure… or just looking for a way to get off the medication train…

Today I have some good news…

New research has found you can “stretch” your way to better BP – in just 15 minutes.

The Canadian Journal of Cardiology recently reported that YOGA – when added to a regular exercise routine – provided blood pressure lowering benefits.

The recent study looked at a group of patients deemed hypertensive (having high blood pressure) and found that an additional 15 minutes of yoga daily over the course of three months – compared to basic stretching – lowered significant BP readings, like:

• Overall blood pressure: -11/8 mm Hg from 130/77 mm Hg with yoga vs -4/3 mm Hg from 126/76 mm Hg with stretching.
• Heart rate: -7 from 73 beats/min with yoga vs -3 from 74 beats/min with stretching.
• Reynolds Risk Score (your estimated risk of adverse cardiac event): -1.2 from 8.2 with yoga vs -0.6 from 9.0 with stretching.

Again, these are results of doing yoga ALONG with a regular exercise routine. So don’t mistake just doing yoga as an immediate path to lower BP.

However, unlike basic stretching, yoga incorporates a series of longer stretches, poses, and controlled breathing. Studies have found that this all creates more pliable arteries allowing the blood to flow more freely – which in turn helps lower blood pressure.

If you haven’t tried yoga before, consider giving it a try. You don’t need join a yoga studio, either.

You can find yoga routines ranging from beginner to advanced online that you can do from the comfort of your own home. You may just need to invest in a basic exercise mat.

As the study noted, for the best results, consider some light yoga either before or after your current exercise routine.

Be sure to consult with your doctor first before making drastic changes to your physical activity regimen.

To stretching away high blood pressure,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Lou, Nicole. “Yoga Flexes Muscle for Those With High Blood Pressure.” https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/prevention/102171

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Facts About Hypertension.” https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm

World Population Review. “US States – Ranked by Population 2022.” https://worldpopulationreview.com/states