April 9, 2016

Understanding Hypertension or High Blood Pressure


From hour to hour or even minute to minute, blood pressure level changes. Apparently, the level of blood pressure 120 over 80-90 mmHg is considered an ideal level, which is also considered that the risk of heart disease or stroke is lower at this level. While the level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is feasible for high Blood Pressure. The lower the blood pressure the much better for you.

What is Hypertension?

High blood pressure is called Hypertension. It is a common condition which is more likely to happen with the people who live into older age.

Sometimes, due to various factors like stress, smoking, being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, too much alcohol consumption, high blood pressure or hypertension temporarily occurs that puts stress on the artery walls and they become weakened or thickened. If once it happens then the blood circulation space becomes narrower and arteries may get blocked which no more able to supply oxygen to vital organs like brain, heart or kidneys.


Causes and Symptoms of Hypertension

High blood pressure is sometimes called a silent killer because it may have no outward symptoms for years. In fact, one in five people with the condition don't know they have it. Internally, it can quietly damage the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, and kidneys if left untreated. It's a major risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.
Normal blood pressure readings will fall below 120/80, while higher results over time can indicate hypertension. In most cases, the underlying cause of hypertension is unknown. The top number (systolic) shows the pressure when the heart beats. The lower number (diastolic) measures pressure at rest between heartbeats, when the heart refills with blood. Occasionally, kidney or adrenal gland disease can lead to hypertension.

How to control hypertension?

You need to take some steps to successfully control your high blood pressure (hypertension) by adopting a healthier lifestyle:

1. Healthy diet: If you are having problem, best tip to maintain healthy diet plan for is, keep a food diary with you. Even just for a week, write down what, how much and when you eat. This really would make you surprised on your eating habits.

2. Regular exercise: Some best exercise for lowering blood pressure you can do is: jogging, cycling, walking, swimming or dancing. Hence regular exercise increases nitric oxide in body which brings your blood pressure down to safer levels. Once you stop exercising, your blood pressure can rise again.

3. Weight loss: Carrying too much weight around your waist may increase the risk of your blood pressure level. Thus, weight loss is one of the most effective changes for controlling blood pressure. However, you can get rid of this weight loss concern, if you keep your exercise regularly.

4. Avoid sodium (salt): Salt in your food must limit to less than 2,300 mg a day or less. Small reduction of salt in your diet reduces the level of your blood pressure by 2-8 mmHg.

5. No smoking and drinking: Too much limit of smoking and drinking leads to raise you blood pressure level which reduces the effectiveness of your medications for blood pressure.

6. Reduce stress: Reacting to stress unconditionally, also lead to generate the level of blood pressure. If you are not able to find what's causing your stress, take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness.


Self Monitoring Blood Pressure (SMBP)

If you are living a blood pressure life then you must to have a blood pressure monitor at home for Self Monitoring Blood Pressure (SMBP).
It is the way to increase your engagement that enables you to get more conscious about maintenance of control and preventing heart attacks and strokes and then you can get the proper medication accordingly and take a better care of your health to live a healthy life for long. This SMBP is also useful for senior people, diabetes patients, people with chronic kidney disease, pregnant women, etc.

Conclusion

Everyone must have a blood pressure monitor at home. It is more likely to check your blood pressure yourself at home rather than to visit any doctor's office. There are various Blood Pressure Monitors are available that you can get easily in the market or at online healthcare store.

Content reference:

No comments:

Post a Comment