Does It Matter If I Usually Eat Salty Foods Is This Affecting My Blood Pressure
Salty foods and adding salt to foods, in general, will end up being problematic for you. Salt is known for the fact that it does increase blood pressure naturally. Thats why you need to monitor it as much as possible, and that means eating less salty foods.
Preparing your own food at home and starting to work out can really make things a lot easier for you. It does take a little bit of time to adjust to this, but its worth it and thats what matters the most.
Managing Blood Pressure / Understanding Medications
The single most important thing stroke survivors can do to lower the risk of a second stroke is control their blood pressure. As a caregiver, you also need to control your high blood pressure too. Of the 700,000 strokes yearly nearly all have a primary cause of high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. Controlling your blood pressure may seem confusing and you may not even know what high blood pressure means or what effects it has on your body. The damaging effects of high blood pressure can affect nearly every system! Just because you cannot feel high blood pressure does not mean your body is unaffected.
So what is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is the constant elevation of blood pressure in your arteries. Arteries are the vessels that carry blood away from your heart and to the organs of your body. The arteries supply the nutrient rich blood your body needs to survive and your veins carry the blood back to your heart. Having high blood pressure stretches your arteries slowly causing damage and stiffening. Because your arteries are all over your body and in every organ, the damage of high blood pressure is all over your body and in every organ.
High Blood Pressure is also called hypertension and numbers are given to stage how high your blood pressure. Lets say for example that your blood pressure is 150/84.
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What are HBP symptoms?
What Can You Do?
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Stroke symptoms include:
Common Drugs for High Blood Pressure
References:
Blood Pressure Checks During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, even if it is not high.
Watching your blood pressure while you are pregnant reduces your risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can lead to a serious condition called pre-eclampsia where there is a problem with the placenta .
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Do You Need Medication
For the most part, you will notice that blood pressure medication is not necessarily needed right away. The lifestyle changes that we mentioned earlier can really make a huge difference.
But if for some reason, these changes are not offering you the value you need, then you must try blood pressure medication. There are multiple over the counter options you can check out, although its important to listen to the doctor.
Some of them might be a lot better for you when compared to others. So that means having a customized medication system to suit your own health.
What Hypertension Stage Three Does To Your Body
Hypertension is often called the silent killer because its sufferers so rarely experience physical symptoms in the early stages. Even the signs that do exist, such as tingling in the arms or legs due to decreased circulation, are often excused by other factors, such as long hours of work. Yet, left undetected/uncontrolled, hypertension is actually causing chaos to most every system in the human body.
Cardiovascular
Its a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease, microvascular disease, and heart attack. Increased pressure from systolic and diastolic blood pressure causes the vascular system to weaken and stiffen. As the damage continues, the cell lining in the arteries deteriorates and leaves you at risk for fatty deposits, aneurysms, and decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. As the heart works harder and harder, the workload can cause it to enlarge and ultimately fail.
Brain
The brain relies upon the nourishment of the vascular system to function properly. Clogged and sluggish blood supply leaves you at risk for cognitive impairment, such as dementia and Alzheimers. It leaves you susceptible to strokes, aneurisms, and TIAs.
Kidneys
Eyes
Vascular
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What Is High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is recorded with 2 numbers. The systolic pressure is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.
The diastolic pressure is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.
They’re both measured in millimetres of mercury .
As a general guide:
- high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher
- ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg
Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you’re at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.
Everyone’s blood pressure will be slightly different. What’s considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else.
Choosing A Blood Pressure Monitor
If you’re planning to take your blood pressure at home, it’s important to have a reliable blood pressure monitor. The AHA recommends an automatic, cuff-style, bicep monitor, but there are other options.
When selecting a blood pressure monitor, consider the following:
- Fit: To ensure a proper fit, measure around your upper arm and choose a monitor that comes with the correct size cuff.
- Number of people: If more than one person will be using the monitor, make sure to choose one that fits everyone.
- Features: Some blood pressure monitors offer extra tech features, like Bluetooth and app connectivity. If you don’t think you’ll benefit from these extras, go ahead and choose one that is efficient, easy to use, and more affordable.
- Budget: High-quality blood pressure monitors vary dramatically in price, from around $25 to well over $100. Keep in mind that a good monitor is a great investment and that you will be using it daily for several years.
- Other considerations: The AHA notes that when selecting a blood pressure monitor for a senior, pregnant person, or child, you should make sure it is validated for these conditions.
If you need help selecting an at-home device, check out these blood pressure monitors, which were vetted by the Verywell team based on the above criteria.
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Healthy And Unhealthy Blood Pressure Ranges
Learn whats considered normal, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
| SYSTOLIC mm Hg | and/or | DIASTOLIC mm Hg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORMAL | |||
| HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STAGE 1 | 130 139 | ||
| HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STAGE 2 | 140 OR HIGHER | ||
| HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS | HIGHER THAN 180 | and/or | HIGHER THAN 120 |
Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings.
A New Definition Of High Blood Pressure
The guidelines, in a nutshell, state that normal blood pressure is under 120/80, whereas up until Monday, normal was under 140/90.
Now, elevated blood pressure is systolic blood pressure between 120 and 129. That used to be a vague category called “prehypertension.”
Stage 1 high blood pressure is now between 130 and 139 systolic or between 80 and 89 diastolic .
Stage 2 high blood pressure is now over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic.
The measurements must have been obtained from at least two careful readings on at least two different occasions. What does careful mean? The guidelines provide a six-step tutorial on how, exactly, to correctly measure a blood pressure, which, admittedly, is sorely needed. My patients often have their first blood pressure taken immediately after they have rushed in through downtown traffic, as theyre sipping a large caffeinated beverage. While we always knew this could result in a falsely elevated measurement, it is now officially poor clinical technique resulting in an invalid reading.
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Is 150/90 A Good Blood Pressure Lets Find Out
Monitoring our blood pressure is essential if you want to stay healthy and fit in the long run. That means you need to know if 150 over 90 is good blood pressure or not. You must have a good idea of what blood pressure you need to have based on your age. The last thing you want is to encounter is high blood pressure, as that can be very problematic for your body and it comes with major side effects.
If You Now Have High Blood Pressure You May Not Need Meds Yet
The guidelines also outline very clearly when a diet-and-lifestyle approach is the recommended, first-line treatment, and when medications are simply just what you have to do. Thankfully, the decision is largely based on facts and statistics. For the elevated blood pressure category, medications are actually not recommended rather, a long list of evidence-based, non-drug interventions are. What are these interventions? Things that really work: a diet high in fruits and vegetables decreased salt and bad fats more activity weight loss if one is overweight or obese and no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men, and one for women. Simply changing what you eat can bring down systolic blood pressure by as much as 11 points, and each additional healthy habit you adopt can bring it down another four to five points.
For people with stage 1 hypertension who dont have cardiovascular disease and are at low risk for developing it , lifestyle changes are still the way to go.
However, if a patient has any kind of cardiovascular disease and stage 1 hypertension , or no existing cardiovascular disease but a significant risk of developing it , then lifestyle changes plus medications are recommended. And, even if someone has less than a 10% risk, if their blood pressure is over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic, which is now stage 2 high blood pressure, they ought to be treated with medication as well.
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How Do I Calculate My Heart Rate
To calculate your target training heart rate, you need to know your resting heart rate. Resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute when it’s at rest. The best time to find your resting heart rate is in the morning after a good night’s sleep and before you get out of bed. Typically, an adults resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute. However, for people who are physically fit, it’s generally lower. Also, resting heart rate usually rises with age.
- The best places to find your pulse are the wrists, inside of your elbow, side of your neck or top of your foot.
- To get the most accurate reading, put your finger over your pulse and count the number of beats in 60 seconds.
Are There Any Methods You Can Use To Prevent Hypertension
A good thing you can do is to limit the alcohol intake. Drinking a lot of alcohol is usually connected to having high blood pressure.
Drinking alcohol 3 times a week in moderation should not cause any problems. Cutting down on caffeine is just as important.
Another good idea is to lose weight. If youre overweight, then your heart has to work harder in order to pump blood throughout your body.
Losing some weight can really make a difference.
Smoking can put you at risk of a stroke or heart attack. While it doesnt affect the blood pressure directly, it will still lead to the same issues caused by high blood pressure. This is why it makes a lot of sense to stop drinking and smoking, as they are not good for you and they can end up causing major health issues in the long run.
Lastly, you may want to shift towards a healthier diet. Cut down the amount of salt in your food considerably, and also make sure that you go for a diet low on pasta, fruit, rice, and whole grains. Avoid processed food, fast food, or anything unhealthy.
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Being Inactive Is Bad For Your Health
People who aren’t physically active are much more likely to have health problems, like heart attack and stroke. On the other hand, regular physical activity helps to lower blood pressure, control weight and reduce stress.
For overall health benefits to the heart, lungs and circulation, get regular aerobic activity using the following guidelines:
- For most healthy people, get the equivalent of at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking.
- You can break up your weekly physical activity goal however you like. An easy plan to remember is 30 minutes a day on at least five days a week. But shorter sessions count, too.
- Physical activity should be spread throughout the week.
- Include flexibility and stretching exercises.
- Include muscle-strengthening activity at least two days each week.
Warm Up And Cool Down
Warming up before exercising and cooling down afterwards helps your heart move gradually from rest to activity and back again. You also decrease your risk of injury or soreness.
- Your warm-up should last at least 10 minutes longer if you are older or have been inactive for a long time.
- Making time for a cool-down is also especially important. If you stop exercising too quickly, your blood pressure can drop sharply, which can be dangerous and can cause muscle cramping.
- Adding some relaxing yoga poses to your routine will also increase your flexibility.
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What’s The Impact Of Having High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases such as:
- coronary heart disease – where the main arteries that supply your heart become clogged up with plaques
- strokes – a serious condition where the blood supply to your brain is interrupted
- heart attacks – a serious condition where the blood supply to part of your heart is blocked
Diabetes and kidney disease are also linked to high blood pressure complications.
Secondary High Blood Pressure
Some cases of high blood pressure are the result of underlying factors or cause and this is known as secondary high blood pressure.
Underlying factors include:
- kidney conditions, such as a kidney infection, or kidney disease
- narrowing of the arteries
- hormonal conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome
- conditions that affect the bodys tissue, such as lupus
- medication, such as the oral contraceptive pill, or the type of painkillers that are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen
- recreational drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines and crystal meth
Occasionally, a rise in blood pressure can result from taking herbal remedies, such as herbal supplements.
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Regular Blood Pressure Checks For Over Over 40’s
The only way to find out whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Ask your GP when you are next due for yours to be checked.
Blood pressure checks are usually available on request at most GP surgeries and health clinics. Some surgeries have home monitoring devices available, which you may be able to use at the time of blood pressure medication start up or change. Many also have a policy of arranging regular checks for you.
Adults who are over 40 and have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years. However, your blood pressure should ideally be checked more frequently, particularly if you have any contributory risk factors.
What Are The Treatments For High Blood Pressure
Treatments for high blood pressure include heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines.
You will work with your provider to come up with a treatment plan. It may include only the lifestyle changes. These changes, such as heart-healthy eating and exercise, can be very effective. But sometimes the changes do not control or lower your high blood pressure. Then you may need to take medicine. There are different types of blood pressure medicines. Some people need to take more than one type.
If your high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or medicine, treating that condition or stopping the medicine may lower your blood pressure.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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What Is The Difference
The major difference between the old and new guidelines is the elimination of the category of pre-hypertension. However, findings from research studies show that complications can exist when blood pressure is as low as 130-139 over 80-89.
The new guidelines change the categories. Those same readings that would have been pre-hypertension are now categorized as stage I hypertension. Doing so means earlier treatment, which can help prevent future increases in blood pressure and more serious complications associated with hypertension.
Why Does Blood Pressure Increase With Age
Doctors dont completely understand why blood pressure tends to rise with age. Blood pressure is the force of blood as it flows through the arteries. As you age, your arteries may narrow and become stiff. Narrow arteries lead to an increase in blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage the walls of the arteries and the heart itself.
In some cases, high blood pressure could be a result of lifestyle, the environment, certain medications, or other conditions such as sleep apnea, kidney disease, or thyroid problems.
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How Is High Blood Pressure Treated
If high blood pressure is due to a condition like kidney disease or lung disease, treating it might be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal.
Doctors also might recommend lifestyle changes. If you have hypertension, your doctor might want you to:
Eat a healthy diet:
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
- Limit salt.
- Avoid alcohol.
Get regular exercise:
- Try to exercise for 3060 minutes at least 3 times a week. But teens with severe hypertension should not do any weightlifting or power-lifting, bodybuilding, or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor says it’s OK.
Not smoke. Or if you do smoke, quit:
- People with high blood pressure should not smoke, and their home and car should be smoke-free.
If diet and exercise changes do not improve the blood pressure, doctors may prescribe medicine.