High blood pressure can be slowly life-threatening. People with chronic high blood pressure are at higher risk than others for heart problems. Avoiding smoking, excessive drinking and stress can lower your blood pressure for the long term. You can also lower your blood pressure in a matter of minutes.
Stop whatever you’re doing that made your blood pressure heighten. Whether it was smoking, drinking, exercising or stress, stop immediately.
Sit or lie down, because blood pressure is higher when you are moving around. Activity gets the blood pumping and the heart flowing. If you must move, do so slowly and calmly. Sitting for a few minutes can help to bring your blood pressure down.
Be in a comfortable position. If you are in a position in which your legs or arms are not supported, the heart must work harder to pump the blood to those areas. Your blood pressure, in this situation, goes up. If you’re lying down, all areas of your body are stable and flat and your body doesn’t have to work as hard to effectively pump blood to all the areas and organs that need it.
Breathe deeply and calmly. Your blood pumps harder when you’re out of breath because the heart is making an attempt to find oxygen to put into your blood. Taking deep, calm breaths helps oxygen enter the blood stream so that the heart can calm down and reduce your blood pressure. Use an inhaler or breathing tank if you must. Breathing deeply and calmly can reduce the stress that you’re feeling.
Take blood pressure medication prescribed to you by your physician. If you have high blood pressure and are prescribed such medications, taking your medicine can reduce your blood pressure level quickly.