November Waves

Blood pressure and ocean waves – the importance of minimizing resistance

Author

Kathryn Howe
November 01, 2025

November Waves

Blood pressure and ocean waves – the importance of minimizing resistance

Think about big, beautiful rolling ocean waves that ripple forward for miles. For people that spend time on the ocean, these smooth rides are best. Even if we aren’t familiar with being on the ocean, it’s pretty easy to imagine how much better a smooth unimpeded ride will feel – as opposed to waves crashing into cliffs or colliding with other waves. The same is true for the flow of blood being ejected from the heart with every heartbeat.

What? 

Yes, every time the heart beats it is pumping a big, beautiful wave of blood forward through the biggest pipe in the body (the aorta). It continues to pulse forward and feed branches that come off the aortic tree, supplying the entire body. Stiff blood vessels create resistance and make the heart work harder to pump that wave forward.

Vascular stiffness is caused by high blood pressure.

Vascular stiffness is caused by atherosclerosis (build-up of cholesterol and inflammation in the blood vessel wall).

Vascular stiffness is caused by aging.

Why does it matter? Because high blood pressure is one of the top risks for strokes and heart attacks. And it’s silent. There’s no pain. You don’t feel the waves meeting resistance inside your body. Day in and day out, the heart just keeps working harder.

What can you do to keep your blood vessels from getting stiff? Keep the Secret Cell happy! One of the major jobs of the Secret Cells lining your 60,000 miles of blood vessels is to preserve vascular function. You can keep these cells content through cardiovascular exercise, a nutritious diet, strength training, time in nature, and breathwork. 

For some, blood pressure medications will be needed and that’s just fine. Anything to get your big, beautiful waves of blood flowing forward smoothly. Minimizing resistance. Helping your heart. It’s got to last you a lifetime after all!

 

Challenge for the month:

Can you check your blood pressure at home and discuss the results with your healthcare provider?

See below for a link to great resource on how to take your blood pressure, the numbers, and more information:

 

Kathryn