If you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, three morning habits worth avoiding are:
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Skipping prescribed medicines — Take blood-pressure or cholesterol medication exactly as prescribed. Don’t change or stop it based on how you feel.
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Eating a high-sodium, high-saturated-fat breakfast — Limit foods such as processed meats, salty packaged foods, butter/ghee-heavy dishes, and fried foods. Choose options with more fiber and less saturated fat.
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Starting the day with tobacco or too much caffeine — Smoking raises blood pressure and damages cardiovascular health. Large amounts of caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure in some people.
A generally heart-friendly morning routine is medication as prescribed, a fiber-rich breakfast, some physical activity if appropriate for you, and avoiding tobacco.
