Daily Star

TACKLING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DAY TWO: EV

- BY PAT HAGA

GET YOUR DANCING SHOES ON

Ballroom dancing has never been more popular, thanks to hit telly show Strictly Come Dancing.

And research suggests it be a great way of lowering blood pressure.

One study which looked at dozens of sufferers with high readings who took up ballroom dancing three times a week found those readings dropped significan­tly every time they took to the dance floor, and remained lower afterwards.

Researcher­s said if the benefits proved to be long-term, patients might be able to reduce their dependence on tablets to keep blood pressure under control.

WALK 30 MINUTES A DAY

Getting on top of high blood pressure doesn’t mean running marathons or exercising to the point of exhaustion.

Scientists at the University of Western Australia studied 67 men and women aged from 55 to 80 to see exactly what effect daily strolls had on their cardiac health.

The results showed readings came down, even if the half-hour walk was followed by a long period of sitting down at a computer or in front of a TV.

In some of the patients, walking was just as effective as the prescripti­on tablets they were taking at keeping blood pressure in check.

MOW THE LAWN

Cutting the grass for 40 minutes can be a could your very effective way of lowering ings, according to tests carr doctors at Winnipeg Regio Authority in Canada.

They measured readings their seventies as they push up and down, and found bloo scores dropped more sharply the same men later playe round of golf.

SWIM THREE

PER WEEK

As we age, the idea of putting even more strain on our joints by taking up jogging can be fairly daunting.

But studies show regular swimming sessions are a great alternativ­e for reducing blood pressure without ending with aching limbs.

A recent study in the Journal of Cardiology found 4 women in their fifties and s able to reduce their top bloo reading (called the systolic 122mmhg from 131mmhg w months of taking up regular sessions lasting 45 minutes ea

USE STAIRS, NOT THE L

Climbing the stairs instead o

TIMES

u

 ??  ?? STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Dancing can get your blood pressure down and your fitness up, as proved by 61-year-old Strictly star Debbie Mcgee
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Dancing can get your blood pressure down and your fitness up, as proved by 61-year-old Strictly star Debbie Mcgee
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