I was diagnosed with high blood pressure 2 weeks ago. (Actually, it was 8 months ago - it just took until two weeks ago for me to face reality and accept that it wasn't going to go away just because I wanted it to <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ) The following weekend, I cancelled all the "important" stuff I "needed" to do at home, took a day off work (in lieu of overtime) and went backpacking in the Rockies for three days - something I have been promising myself for several years, but kept finding excuses not to do.

A friend of mine, who also suffered from hypertension (much worse than mine) suggested strongly that it was caused by (a) too much junk food and pre-packaged food; (b) too much stress in my life; and (c) not enough exercise. Backpacking 5 miles into the woods, spending an entire day relaxing by a mountain lake, and then hiking back out again at a nice, leisurely pace, is the most enjoyable way I can think of to address (b) and (c). <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />