Have you Checked Your Blood Pressure Lately?
If it’s higher than the What is Normal Blood Pressure?, then it’s time for you to learn something about managing it. According to statistics, about 33% of adult Americans have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Lower Blood Pressure is a condition that can often lead to more serious problems like stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease, kidney failure and such other serious ailments.
What causes High Blood Pressure?
Also equally important is your will power to effectively combat this killer disease. The first thing for you to do is to examine your lifestyle. This includes the food you eat, your habits and your work among other things. When it comes to eating, you ought to know that foods that have high content of salt and saturated fat are a BIG NO-NO.
Salt or sodium can increase your blood pressure. So make sure that you limit your salt intake. If possible, refrain from eating salty foods and eliminate salt from your diet. Like salt, saturated fats must also be avoided. Not only do they increase your pressure but also cause you some other ailments.
Eating for Healthy Blood Pressure
As we all know, too much saturated fat is not always good for your health. On the other hand, get enough supply of potassium, calcium and magnesium. While potassium balances the sodium inside your body, calcium and magnesium, on the other hand, lowers blood pressure especially to women who are on their menopausal stage.
Of course where else can you get all these minerals, but from fresh fruits and vegetables. So in managing High Blood Pressure, you must switch to healthy foods instead, like fruits and vegetables. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Water is vital to our health for it comprises about 75% of our body mass.
Changes You Can Make to Manage High Blood Pressure
Take note also that you need to avoid too much alcohol and caffeine for it also triggers hypertension. But this doesn’t mean that you should not drink coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages at all. You may of course have them, but only in moderation. Likewise, if you smoke, please stop it.
You certainly know the reason why. It will not give you any good at all. Sure it’s difficult to quit, but just remember that you’re managing high blood pressure, and smoking is one thing that will surely ruin everything. Another thing, keep your body in good shape. Maintain an ideal body weight.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Many threatening diseases play with the lives of people. What is high blood pressure? They are those which entail serious consequences especially when ignored. Among these threatening diseases is high blood pressure, or also known as hypertension. It is tends to run in families, and it may be acquired through genetics. So when a member or members of your family have it, be wary.
Be mindful so as not to get overly stressed. Stress can cause high blood pressure, and this can be detrimental. You also have to watch your diet and make means to have a healthy one. Avoid rich, fatty and high cholesterol foods as they can aggravate your condition.
As much as possible, avoid disobliging habits as well, such as smoking and drinking. Most of all have regular exercise and this can help in managing your blood pressure. So what happens when a person has hypertension? Hypertension happens when there is a rise in pressure of the blood circulating in the artery.
High blood pressure is also a normal response to stress and physical activity. However, if it becomes persistently high, then it may signal something ominous. It may cause your heart and your arteries to be overworked. Arterial disease, heart attacks and strokes can then become more likely.
Blood Pressure Measurement
There are two values for blood pressure measurement- systolic and diastolic. Systolic is used to measure as it enters the heart from the aorta. As for diastolic, it means the when the heart ventricles relax in between beats. Both of these are measured in millimeters of mercury or mm/hg.
Abnormal levels would be more than or equal to 140 mm/hg systolic bp over 90 mm/hg diastolic bp. A reading above 140/90 is considered as abnormal at any stage. Measures should then be taken, such as seeking medical attention. What are the effects of hbp or hypertension? Primarily, there is coronary heart disease.
Who is at risk of High Blood Pressure?
Coronary heart disease is more likely to lead to heart attack and strokes. This is the main harm that hypertension can cause. Who is predisposed to hbp? Hbp can strike both children and adults, but adults 35 and above have to be wary. They are more likely to be beset by the disease. Hypertension is seen to be common among African-Americans, middle aged people and the elderly.
So is with overweight and obese people, heavy drinkers and women who are taking birth control pills. People suffering from gout or kidney disease as well as diabetes mellifluous are more predisposed as well.
Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure
As said, lower blood pressure can be acquired through genes. When it runs in your family and you are predisposed to it, it’s best that you make means in warding it off. The best recourse is to live a healthy lifestyle. Engage in stress relief and management measures, exercise regularly and have a healthy diet.
Do away with disobliging habits. These are the simple and basic means for you to prevent hypertension and promote your longevity. Your risks for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes will be reduced. More so, you will be able to enjoy a better quality of life free from the dangers of hbp and other threatening conditions.
If you’re slightly overweight, then it’s high time that you strip off those excess pounds. Have a dose of exercise to start with. Walking under the sun for at least 20 to 30 minutes early in the morning will be best. Aside from helping you attain that ideal body weight, it will also give you a good dose of vitamin D, which is likewise needed by your body to fight hypertension.
Can Stress and Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?
Do not also forget to always give yourself a break. Avoid stress if you can. However, it’s difficult nowadays to avoid it. So you should at least control it. How? It all depends on you. After all, we all have different circumstances in life. As the saying goes, “different strokes, for different folks.” So adopt your own stroke.
Lastly, always check your blood pressure and consult your doctor, if needed. Indeed, managing high pressure is not that difficult at all if you know exactly what to do and you have that needed will power.
High Blood Pressure Medication
There are many medicines available to treat it, but then you can’t be sure that you’ll never have it again once it is treated. It’s such a traitor disease that must be managed properly. Managing HBP is not as difficult as most people think if you actually know what to do.
