ASK THE PHYSICIAN
S. Justin Szawlewicz, M.D.
Attending Cardiologist
Vice Chair, Medical Staff
Q: Just a few weeks back, my doctor said I
am “borderline” for high blood pressure. Is
there anything I can do to help lower it?
-Jim W., Manasquan
A: Jim, it’s good to know when you have borderline high
blood pressure (BP) — being aware of it means you can take
steps now to lower your BP, before it increases and becomes a
medical concern.
Particularly in light of new guidelines released by the Amer-
ican College of Cardiology and the American Heart Associa-
tion — with the new “normal BP” being below 120/80 — we
all need to be aware of our BP and do what we can to keep it
under control.
Steps you can take to lower your BP without medications
include:
• Exercising four or more times a week if your doctor says
it is OK
• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Eating healthier foods that are low in salt and fat and add-
ing some foods which are higher in fiber (roughage), such
as vegetables, whole grains and fruits
• Cutting down on caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, energy
drinks)
• Quitting smoking
• Looking at unhealthy stressors in your life and minimiz-
ing or eliminating them
Follow your doctor’s instructions, and keep adding up those
healthy lifestyle changes!
For an appointment or more information about how Debo-
rah Heart and Lung Center’s leading-edge technologies can
improve your quality of life, call 855-856-7146 or rvisit www.
demanddeborah.org.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ MARCH 2019 83