As part of an ongoing effort to support and encourage wellness efforts within the LCMS, the Wellness Action Team, a working group of the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support, will be sharing brief, informational health tips with you monthly on this webpage.

Medicine Not The Only Way to Control Blood Pressure
Medicines may be quite effective in helping to control blood pressure, but there are other means to helping control blood pressure as well:

• Weight loss: If you are overweight, losing weight can drop your blood pressure 5 to 20 points.
• Exercise: Thirty minutes of daily exercise can lower pressure 2 to 9 points.
• Reducing salt intake: Limiting your salt intake to 1,500 mg of sodium a day brings down pressure 2 to 8 points.
• Increasing potassium: including more potassium in your diet also reduces your blood pressure. Potassium-rich foods include baked potatoes with skin, peas, cantaloupe, orange juice, dates, watermelon, and bananas.
• Fruits/Vegetables: Adding more fruits and vegetables can also decrease blood pressure.