Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Diet changes during low physical activity
• Method 2 of 3: Maintaining a Healthy Life After Surgery
• Method 3 of 3: Consult your doctor

If you've recently had surgery, your doctor may advise you to try to lower your blood pressure. This can be done by making dietary and lifestyle changes. Before making any changes, be sure to check with your doctor. He will advise you on the best options.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Diet changes during low physical activity

1. 1 Eat less sodium. Sodium is found in salt, so limit your intake. The taste for salty food is acquired, that is, it is not inherent in a person from birth, but is formed as a habit. Some people who are accustomed to salt their food abundantly can consume up to 3.5 grams of sodium (as part of salt) daily. If you have high blood pressure after surgery and need to lower it, your doctor will recommend that you limit the amount of salt in your diet. In this case, you should consume no more than 2.3 grams of sodium daily. Do the following:
   • Be careful what you snack on. Instead of salty snacks like chips, croutons, or nuts, go for apples, bananas, carrots, or bell peppers.
   • Choose canned foods with little or no salt, taking into account the composition indicated on the package.
   • Use a lot less salt in your cooking, or no salt at all. Use other condiments like cinnamon, paprika, parsley, or oregano instead of salt. Remove the salt shaker from the table so as not to add salt to the finished meals.
2. 2 Improve your health with whole grain foods. They contain more nutrients and fiber than white flour and are easier to fill up. Try to get the majority of your calories from whole grains and other complex carbohydrate foods. Eat six to eight servings a day.One serving can be, for example, half a glass of cooked rice or a slice of bread. Increase your intake of whole grains in the following ways:
   • Eat oatmeal or coarse cereal for breakfast. To sweeten the porridge, add fresh fruit or raisins to it.
   • Study the composition of the purchased bread, giving preference to whole grain.
   • Change from white flour to whole grain. The same applies to pasta.
3. 3 Eat more vegetables and fruits. It is recommended to eat four to five servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Serving size is approximately half a cup. Fruits and vegetables contain trace minerals such as potassium and magnesium, which help regulate blood pressure. You can increase your intake of fruits and vegetables by:
   • Start your meal with a salad. Eating the salad first will help reduce your hunger. Do not leave the salad for last - once you are full, you are unlikely to want to eat it. Diversify salads by adding a variety of vegetables and fruits. Add as little salted nuts, cheese, or sauces as possible to salads as they are high in salt. Season salads with vegetable oil and vinegar, which are almost sodium-free.
   • Keep ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables on hand for a quick snack. When going to work or school, bring peeled carrots, bell pepper slices, or an apple with you.
4. 4 Limit your fat intake. A diet high in fat can lead to clogged arteries and high blood pressure. There are many attractive ways to reduce your fat intake while still getting all the nutrients you need to recover from surgery.
   • Dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provide the body with calcium and vitamin D, but they are often high in fat and salt. Eat low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. At the same time, cheeses should contain little salt.
   • Eat lean poultry and fish instead of red meat. If a piece of meat is greasy around the edges, trim it off. Eat no more than 170 grams of meat a day. It is more useful not to fry the meat in a pan, but to bake, grill or in the oven.
   • Reduce your intake of extra fat. This includes butter that you spread on bread or dough, mayonnaise with which you season dishes, heavy cream that you use for creams or sauces. Eat no more than three tablespoons of them a day.
5. 5 Limit the amount of sugar you eat. Processed sugar contributes to overeating because it lacks the nutrients your body needs to feel full. Try to eat no more than five sweets a week.
   • While artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame can quench your cravings for sweets, try replacing sweets with healthier snacks such as vegetables and fruits.

Method 2 of 3: Maintaining a Healthy Life After Surgery

1. 1 Quit smoking. Smoking and / or chewing tobacco constricts blood vessels and reduces their elasticity, leading to high blood pressure. If you live with a smoker, ask him not to smoke in your presence so that you do not breathe tobacco smoke. This is especially important during the recovery period after surgery. If you smoke yourself, try to give up this bad habit. To do this, you can proceed as follows:
   • Talk to your doctor about an action plan to help you quit smoking.
   • Join an online community, a quit smoking support group, or see a counselor.
   • Try nicotine replacement medications to reduce cravings.
2. 2 Don't drink alcohol. If you have recently undergone surgery, you are most likely taking medications to help you recover soon. Alcohol interacts with many medications.
   • In addition, your doctor may advise you to lose weight, and alcoholic beverages are high in calories, making it difficult for you.
   • If you find it difficult to stop drinking alcohol, talk to your doctor who can prescribe appropriate treatment for you and recommend where to go for support.
3. 3 Try to reduce stress. Recovery from surgery is not easy, both physically and psychologically. Try the following popular relaxation techniques that you can practice even with limited mobility:
   • meditation;
   • Music or art therapy;
   • breathing exercises;
   • visualization (presenting soothing pictures);
   • progressive tension and relaxation of individual muscle groups.
4. 4 Exercise if your doctor permits. This is a great way to reduce stress and lose weight. However, in the process of recovery after surgery, it is important to observe the measure and not overload your body.
   • Daily walks are safe after many types of surgery, so check with your doctor if they are okay for you and when you can start.
   • Talk to your doctor and physical therapist about a safe exercise program. Continue to see your doctor and physical therapist regularly so that they can monitor you and see if exercise is still working for you.

Method 3 of 3: Consult your doctor

1. 1 If you think you have high blood pressure, call your doctor. In most cases, people do not realize that they have high blood pressure, as it often does not come with noticeable symptoms. However, the following signs may indicate high blood pressure:
   • labored breathing;
   • headache;
   • bleeding from the nose;
   • blurry or double vision.
2. 2 Take blood pressure medications prescribed by your doctor. As you recover from surgery, your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medications for you. Because they can interact with other medicines, tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Your doctor may prescribe the following drugs for you:
   • ACE inhibitors. These drugs relax the blood vessels. They very often interact with other medications, so tell your doctor about any medications you are taking.
   • Calcium antagonists. This type of drug widens the arteries and lowers the heart rate. When taking them, you should not drink grapefruit juice.
   • Diuretics. These drugs increase the frequency of urination, thereby lowering the body's salt content.
   • Beta blockers. Drugs of this type reduce the frequency and strength of the heartbeat.
3. 3 Talk to your doctor about any other medications you are taking. If you are concerned that other medications you are taking or are planning to take after your surgery may increase your blood pressure, discuss this with your doctor. In order to prescribe the most effective remedies for you, your doctor needs to know about all the medications you are taking. Do not stop taking any medication before discussing it with your doctor. The following medications can cause high blood pressure:
   • Over-the-counter pain relievers, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, etc.). Talk to your doctor before using these remedies for pain relief after surgery.
   • Some oral contraceptives
   • Various decongestants and medicines for the common cold and cough, especially those containing pseudoephedrine.