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How to lower your blood pressure naturally

If you leave a comment, Russel will visit your blog and comment. Since my father served in the United States Air Force, Memorial Day weekend has always reminded me of the sacrifice that many of our military service personnel have made to protect our country and ensure that we continue to have the freedoms that we do.

Way back on Memorial Day 1971, I gave a pint of blood at the Red Cross blood drive at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Texas. After that, I gave blood every 56 days (8 weeks), the minimum time period between giving blood.

Zoey the Cool Cat Sometime in the mid-1980s I acquired a 10-gallon (80 pints) blood donor T-shirt from the Red Cross, and that was also the last time that I gave blood. You see, if your blood pressure is too high, or you're on blood pressure medicine, you can't give blood. My blood pressure at that last time was 150/100, the exact cutoff point.

I've had a sphygmomanometer ever since then, and I usually take my blood pressure every Sunday morning. Even on blood pressure medicine, my pressure was 140/90, give or take. Every few years when my prescription deductible was increased, I would search for alternative ways to reduce my blood pressure -- lower salt intake, drink more water, get a pet.

Ah, get a pet! But I've always had pets, so I figured that if pets helped lower my blood pressure, imagine how much higher it would have been!

On September 20, 2007, I got a new pet, Zoey the Cool Cat, whom I believe everyone knows. She is my first totally indoor pet. Since that day, I've noticed that my blood pressure was getting lower and lower, and when I recently went to the doctor for my annual checkup, it was a remarkable 132/78, the lowest it's been since I was, well, it's never been that low. The doctor whom I've been going to since 1994 said that it was Zoey the Cool Cat probably even high because I was sitting in a doctor's office. He took me off blood pressure medicine, and I'm checking the blood pressure every morning. It's holding steady at 130/75 plus or minus.

So, if you want to lower your blood pressure, get an indoor cat, and have fun with it -- feed it, love it, scoop its poop, and take lots of pictures.

A dog might work, too, as long as it's an indoor dog and you play with it, feed it, love it, and take lots of pictures. Zoey the Cool Cat and I think taking pictures is the key.

DISCLAIMER
The method discussed in this post is totally unscientific.
Use at your own risk.

*****

This week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

My first Foto Friday: Tree textures - 5/22/09
Thankful Thursday: Hydrangea - 5/21/09
My new digital SLR camera system - 5/20/09
Providing FREE HELP can be fun (if there's a rose garden involved) - 5/19/09
Manic Monday pop quiz: Concrete cracks - 5/18/09

Last week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): A visit from Mr. Monarch Butterfly - 5/17/09
Russel's Gardening Handbook: Jacaranda - 5/16/09
"Dear Home Inspector: Please try not to kill the deal...." - 5/16/09
"Dear Mrs. Realtor: No I won't...." - 5/16/09
Make your home dog friendly - 5/15/09
Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Chimneys - 5/15/09
WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Huh? - 5/13/09
An Open Letter to the ActiveRain Powers That Be - 5/11/209
Manic Monday pop quiz: Electrical - 5/11/09
What's the point to ActiveRain points? - 5/11/09

Previous week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): I have my eye on you - 5/10/09
Russel's Gardening Handbook: Lily of the Nile - 5/9/09
Americana, courtesy of Burma Shave - 5/9/09
It's all in how you market it - 5/9/09
Special closet doors for the little ones - 5/8/09
Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Would you give up your ActiveRain points? - 5/8/09
How to prevent indoor air pollution - 5/8/09
WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Elevator and footsies - 5/7/09
Just exactly what is a "rain catchment basin"? - 5/6/09
What if I want to leave while the clothes are drying? - 5/5/09
Manic Monday pop quiz: Level 2 drought alert - 5/4/09

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Posted by Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector on 05/22/2009 09:54 PM

Comments (28)

Health in the ActiveRain Channel

health, cats, pets

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Post is included in group: PETS ARE PEOPLE TOO
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28 Comments on How to lower your blood pressure naturally

MAY

I have been trying to talk my husband into getting a pet, a dog for the kids. So far it's a no go! Needless to say my blood pressure is on the rise. Might be the short sales I am working on or the fact that I have two special needs kids. Not sure but either way, I think I should get one!

I believe pets can certainly help with the calming effect. Maybe the combination of a pet, diet and exercise have contributed to a lower blood pressure. They always says an animal is man's best friend and I'm a believer.

Have a nice weekend my friend.

I believe in this, Russel. Five cats and one dog here!

That cat must be doing a good job! You might want to increase her petting on a daily basis.

Hey, Bridget.

Have your husband give me a call and I'll talk some sense into him -- LOL.

Hey, Carl and Ceil.

I've always been active -- volleyball, running, jogging, walking, and my diet changed drastically back in 1993 when I came to San Diego, so the only thing that has changed since September 2007 is a little kitty cat sharing the house with us.

Hey, Bob.

Hmmmmm. I wonder if getting another cat will lower it further. Is there a point of diminishing returns? LOL

Hey, Judi.

Increase petting or increase the number of pictures I take? LOL

Ha Russel - I was going to say just looking at photos of Zoey the cool cat lowers blood pressuere :) ~Rita (maybe also a margarita at on the Border)

Russell, As you probably remember our son just got out of the Army in May. He got back from his second tour of Iraq in March. We lost our Abby dog in January and had to tell him over instant messenger. We got our Dundee dog so he would be here when Tarren came home. I am so glad we did that. I truly think Dundy has been a wonderful calming experience for him. They are best buds. Tarren came back to us normal this time but his first tour was just awful and he was so nervous when he came back from it. I just recently heard that they are using dogs for soldiers that are experiencing problems from their tours. You are right animals are wonderful to lower blood pressure and help with the experiences of war.

Hey, Rita.

That might be possible. Or anything else that causes one to relax.

Hey, Marchel.

I remember when I was at Texas A&M University in Alpha Phi Omega, we used to get our dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, and any other non-frightening pets (no snakes) and go visit what was then called the "old folks retirement home" (now it's an "assisted living center"). The smiles on the faces and the happiness in the voices of those "old folks" was priceless. I think that's when I truly began to understand how much my wise old grandmother meant to me.

Hi Russel! As a former nurse, I had to laugh at your disclosure! BUT, I totally agree that indoor pets (and outdoor for those who love the great outdoors and live on a farm!) can be healing AND can prolong your life! They provide an incredible health benefit--plus, they make our hearts simply SMILE!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

(PS--My Dad and my brother both retired from the USAF--my brother attended the USAFA too!)

Debe in Charlotte

Russell,

I am delaying getting a cat, as we leave in the morning and come at 8 or 9 in the evening, and I know that cats need to be with people, and not alone for long period of times, but you are thowing in a new reason to get a cat. Need to lower the blood pressue. Naturally

I think Zoey has the lowest blood pressure of any creature on the planet! LOL. I swear, that cat has the chillingest (new word) positions I've ever seen. I may request her help in my yoga class. =^.^= (Feel free to use my kitty emoticon) =P

Hey, Debe.

One of my aunts is a Registered Nurse in Tomball, Texas.

Hey, Jon.

Being able to provide for a pet has always been my concern, which is why I did without anything other than fish for a few years while I was traveling so much.

Three years ago a stray black cat came into my life. Unfortunately, although we tried to make her -- Sophie -- into an indoor cat, she wasn't happy, and got hit and killed by a car on September 19, 2007. The next day we got Zoey the Cool Cat. When a door closes, another one opens.

Hey, Lisa.

I like your kitty emoticon. I'll have to start using it. =^.^=

I always had a really low blood pressure when I was younger. Like really low. Then the last time I got it checked they said it was high. I think the nurse checked it wrong. No one else has ever said that. Its like 120/60. I dont think thats high but I dont know.

Anyways glad yours is getting better. That cat looks crazier each day!

MAY

Hey, Shane.

Some of one's blood pressure is dependent on height and weight, but for me, my doctor says 140/80 is borderline and 150/100 was definitely waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too high. I'm 6'3" and 195#.

Russel so happy to hear that your pressure is controlled by loving and caring for Zoey. Pets not only lower blood pressure they can control your sugar readings, too My rescued Buddy the beagle, has helped me control my diabetes, since April 2004. I get walking everyday at least 20 minutes and looking at his friendly face and position always places a smile on my face. buddy

Hey, Kathleen.

Looks like Buddy the Beagle is all set to go outside for a walk in the rain.

I had two beagles as my first pets after graduating from Texas A&M University. I named them Union and Pacific, after the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

Russel, Carley says that you are onto something and she really recommends having a pet to lower your blood pressure or keep you sane!

Carley

Hey, Caren.

Carley looks quite relaxed, but she also is by a windows, and I know that look. It's the "There's something chaseable out there" look.

Cut cat photos! We have an indoor cat and 2 outdoor/indoor dogs.

MAY

Hey, Wendy.

And just why did you not leave me a picture of your lovely three little friends? :(

MAY

I wanted to share a pic of my cat lounging on a chair, but am unable to do so today - some other time I guess!

Hey, Georgina - Yea. Pictures are a problem today, even with Firefox.

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