Want to lower your blood pressure? Be happy!

Being happy releases a happiness hormone called dopamine that lowers blood pressure.

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: July 27, 2015 1:35 pm

Barney Stinson, a character in an American sitcom How I Met Your Mother has a famous catchphrase, ‘Whenever I am sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.’ It seems like Stinson was right because being happy can actually lower your blood pressure!

According to a study led by Professor Martin Fussenger from the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel, being happy releases a happiness hormone called dopamine that lowers blood pressure.

Our body not only feels content whenever it receives dopamine from feel-good activities, therefore, it would not be wrong to say that happiness is a great teacher as it teaches us to behave in a certain way so that we can be happy more often. Scientists claim that this discovery could lead to better ways of controlling our mind’s dopamine system for therapeutic purposes.

Healthy ways to be happy!

Even though, drugs and alcohol gives us momentary happiness – the feeling is fleeting as in the long term you will keep on needing more and more of those substances for your brain to signal the dopamine release. Here are some healthy ways to be happy:

Eat fruits and vegetables

Eating at least eight portions of fruits and vegetables every day will keep you more cheerful and optimistic about the future, scientists say. Although it is not known exactly how fruits and vegetables improve well-being, they contain chemicals known as antioxidants, which are thought to reduce stress levels. (Read: Antioxidants: Facts you should know)

Watch a ‘feel good’ movie

In a recent article entitled, The Pursuit of Hopefulness: Operationalising Hope in Entertainment Media Narrative, published in Routledge journal Media Psychology, watching a feel-good movie can release positive emotions and make you happy. So, the next time you hear about an uplifting movie in the theatres be sure to book a ticket.

Exercising can make you happy

The brain releases endorphins when we exercise and this not only makes us upbeat but also our body feels light and fresh. After sweating it out in the gym or playing a sport, we let go of toxins from our body. Regular exercise goes a long way in keeping various ailments at bay. (Read: How to fit exercise in your busy schedule)

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of stress.

Have sex

Great sex can lead to better self-esteem, as sex like exercise can release endorphins in your brain. It also releases the oxytocin hormone, also called the ‘love’ hormone which helps people bond and creates intimacy. (Read: Understand what turns on your sex partner with this simple tip!)

Laugh out loud

Laughter actually has tangible health benefits which were covered in psychologist Stephanie Davies’ book Laughology: Improve Your Life with the Science of Laughter which covered many of its health benefits. It explained how women were extremely attracted to men who could make them laugh. It also has a profound effect on our brain and body. It floods our brain with ‘happy hormones’ that makes us more sociable and outgoing. It also helps in making us fitter and helps us look younger!

It also makes us more energetic by improving oxygen supply to our brain which improves efficiency and performance. A study by the University of Maryland Medical Center also found that laughter can actually keep heart disease at bay. (Read: Why laughter is still the best medicine)

What is hypertension or high blood pressure?

If your blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg most of the time, it is considered normal blood pressure. If your systolic pressure is between 120 and 140, and your diastolic pressure is between 80 and 90, it is called pre-hypertension. A high blood pressure or hypertension is when your blood pressure is persistently above 140/90 mmHg. Hypertension is a chronic medical condition. Your heart needs to work harder than normal to circulate blood through your blood vessels.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

Diet tips to beat hypertension

When someone is diagnosed with hypertension, it can be quite confusing when it comes to diet restrictions and lifestyle changes. Most people are under the impression that reducing salt intake is all it takes to control hypertension. Dr Nandita Shah, leading homoeopath and Neha Chandna, dietician provide inputs about the foods you should avoid, and the ones you should include in your diet to keep your hypertension under control.

Reduce intake of all animal products like meat, fish, eggs, poultry and dairy. These foods are loaded with animal fat, this fat is absorbed faster than vegetable fats in our body, leading to faster plaque formation.

Eat less oil, ghee, margarine, Vanaspati etc. Fats occurring in plants are less harmful than animal fats, but all the same it can cause damage to the body. If you do feel that oil is an important part of your diet, then you could choose to eat nuts like peanuts etc since their fiber content reduces the speed at which the fat is released into the body.

Avoid all processed foods. Eating homemade food is best for your health. Packaged foods are usually loaded with fats. This is usually done by manufacturers to increase their shelf life, while reducing ours.

Reduce salt intake as excess salt intake holds on to the water in the body raising the blood pressure. Try not to consume more than 1tsp (6 gm salt)/day. Use herbs like pepper, jeera powder, oregano, chilli flakes, lemon juice etc for adding flavor to your foods. Avoid processed foods like breads, biscuits, ketchups, ready to eat options, canned meats etc as they are loaded with salt.

Restrict alcohol as it has empty calories, and if consumed in excess it can increase weight and your pressure. It also affect the muscles within the blood vessels causing them to constrict. Read more…

Home remedies to tackle hypertension

Several herbs have been used in traditional medicine to treat hypertension and here we present a few such remedies.

Garlic

Garlic has been found useful in patients whose blood pressure is mildly elevated. It is believed that allicin in garlic increases the production of nitric oxide and this helps to relax the muscles of the arteries, reducing both the diastolic as well as the systolic blood pressure. To get the entire benefits of garlic, it is recommended that you peel and lightly crush the fresh garlic and consume it raw. However, garlic also has the property of thinning blood and this means the clotting ability of blood is reduced; so it is best to use garlic supplements only after you consult your doctor.

Karpuravalli

Coleus forskohlii is the Karpuravalli plant that is grown in many home gardens in South India. In research studies, it has been found to relax the smooth muscles of the arteries and this helps to lower blood pressure. It is also said to make the heartbeat stronger and slow down the pulse. Certain studies have evaluated the action of Karpuravalli tablets and chewable pills and found it helps reduce blood pressure in the elderly.

Read more about the herbal remedies for hypertension.

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Published : October 17, 2013 1:57 pm | Updated:July 27, 2015 1:35 pm

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