6 Easy Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure
A staggering one in three American adults has high BP. The key to lowering it may lie in simple activities you can do every day.
By Dr. Mehmet Oz
Breathe Deeply
When people who weren't taking medication for their hypertension practiced deep breathing (six breaths in 30 seconds), they reduced their systolic blood pressure by an average of 9 points for a short period of time, according to a study in Hypertension Research. But scientists think long-term reductions may be possible if you practice it regularly for weeks or months. (Controlled breathing may engage the calming parasympathetic nervous system, which can reduce your heart rate and nudge your blood pressure down.) Start by placing one hand on your belly and inhaling deeply, breathing in until you see your lower belly rise. Then breathe out slowly. Repeat until 30 seconds is up.
From the November 2013 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine