A Brief Introduction To High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is a condition when the pressure of the blood inside the arteries or blood vessels attached to the Heart suddenly increases. It ends up severely damaging the walls of the blood vessels that leads to several other medical complications. This is the reason why High Blood Pressure is also referred to as Arterial Pressure in the Systemic Circulation in medical language.
There are various reasons that could result in the increased Blood Pressure. Having controlled Blood Pressure is the best thing as low blood pressure could also result in severe medical complications. If you fail at controlling the blood pressure, you become prone to some of the most dangerous medical conditions, including:
- Stoke
How To Lower Blood Pressure: 5 Natural Ways
Studies over the past 20 years have shown that the majority of people in economic developing countries have blood pressure numbers that are higher than they should be, with many experiencing;high blood pressure.
In fact, there are millions of people all over the world who are struggling with high blood pressure symptoms, or hypertension. As of 2008, the prevalence of elevated;blood pressure among adults over 25 years old was about 40 percent worldwide. Approximately 75 million American adults thats 32 percent, or 1 in every 3 adults suffer from high blood pressure.
Who Is Prone To High Blood Pressure
Unsurprisingly, there are some people who are more likely to get high blood pressure than others. There are several risk factors that you should know about. We will go over the main list in just a moment. However, the most popular risk factors include your age, your family history, your race, and your overall lifestyle choice. For some people who suffer from chronic kidney disease, you may be more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.
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High Blood Pressure Treatment
The best way to lower blood pressure begins with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower your blood pressure. These are called antihypertensive medicines.
The goal of treatment is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels. Your doctor may prescribe medicine thats easy to take and has few, if any, side effects. This treatment is highly successful. If your blood pressure can only be controlled with medicine, youll need to take the medicine for the rest of your life. It is common to need more than one medicine to help control your blood pressure. Dont stop taking the medicine without talking with your doctor. Otherwise, you may increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
Health Benefits Of Spa Treatments
You seem to have escaped to another world when you do spa treatments. You can let your imagination run wild through countries and places youve never been before. While your mind wanders into an imaginary refuge Your body experiences health benefits that you may not be aware of. The three health benefits of spa treatments are as follows:
How To Treat High Blood Pressure Naturally 10 Tips
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults in the US.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the main trigger factors for both strokes;and heart attacks.;A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above is considered hypertension.;In most cases, it does not lead to any noticeable symptom so that it is also called a silent killer.
Many factors contribute to this health issue, including smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, excess salt intake, alcohol consumption, obesity, stress, genetics, and age.
By controlling and managing the risk factors of this disease, you will be able to keep your blood pressure in check. In addition, follow a healthy diet that contains a lot of foods that are abundant in antioxidants;and low in saturated fats;to help control high blood pressure levels well.
What Is The Best High Blood Pressure Medication
Selecting the “best” high blood pressure medication depends on several things, including the general health of the patient, his or her age, ethnicity, and whether or not they have any co-existing medical issues or drug sensitivities.
For example, in a hypertensive patient with asthma, it may be inadvisable to prescribe a beta-blocker, as these drugs can aggravate that respiratorycondition. Similarly, in patients prone to constipation use of certain calcium channel blockers might best be avoided — along with diuretics — as both these classes of drugs can inhibit proper bowel function.
African-American patients respond to some antihypertensive medications better than others.
Certain groups of patients require the use of a specific class of high blood pressure medication. These include:
Pregnant Women
- The drug of choice for hypertensive, pregnant women is one of the oldest high blood pressure medications on the market. Methyldopa, which works to lower blood pressure through the central nervous system, has the lowest risk of harming the mother and developing fetus.
- Other possible safe options include labetalol, beta-blockers, and diuretics.
- Two classes of drugs that should never be used during pregnancy include ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers.
African-Americans
Elderly Patients
With age, comes an increased risk for systolic hypertension which can be aggravated by severe atherosclerosis.
Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Some people buy their own blood pressure monitor to use at home. This means you can measure your blood pressure on an ongoing basis.
The blood pressure readings you do at home are as good as those done by your doctor.
If you decide to buy one, it’s important to get the correct cuff size. If the cuff is too big or too small, it can give an inaccurate reading.
If you take your own blood pressure and get an unusually high reading, take it a second time after at least five minutes. If it’s still high and you’re worried, contact your nurse or GP.
Manage Hypertension With A Healthy Diet
An important part of a high blood pressure treatment plan is to stick to a healthy diet, including limiting sodium intake. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day . People with high blood pressure may need to restrict sodium intake even more. The American Heart Association recommends an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for adults with hypertension.
Its important to pay attention to food labels and choose options that are low-sodium and no salt added at the grocery store and while cooking.
Your doctor may recommend the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, which focuses on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as fat-free or lowfat dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils. The DASH plan also limits foods high in saturated fats, including fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils, like coconut and palm oils, as well as sugary drinks and other sweets.
A study published in December 2017 in the;Journal of the American College of Cardiology;of more than 400 adults with stage 1 high blood pressure;found that combining a low-salt diet with the DASH eating plan was as effective as certain drugs in lowering systolic blood pressure.
Drink Alcohol In Moderation
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will increase your blood pressure and raise the cholesterol levels in your blood.
Sticking to the recommended amounts of alcohol consumption is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.
The recommended daily limits of alcohol consumption are:
- 3 to 4 units of alcohol for men
- 2 to 3 units of alcohol for women.
A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager, a small glass of wine or a pub measure or spirits.
More about drinking alcohol reponsibly
How Common Is High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a common condition, it is estimated that 18% of adult men and 13% of adult women have high blood pressure but are not getting treatment for it.
In 90-95% of cases, there is no single identifiable reason for a rise in blood pressure. But all available evidence shows that lifestyle plays a significant role in regulating your blood pressure.
Risk factors for high blood pressure include:
- age
- poor diet
- being overweight
- excessive alcohol consumption.
Also, for reasons not fully understood, people of Afro-Caribbean and South Asian origin are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other ethnic groups.
/80 To 139/89 : You Might Need Medication
These numbers qualify as high blood pressure and you need to take action. But your doctor will probably suggest that you try out lifestyle changes first before adding drugs — unless you have other health problems.
One thing to keep in mind: Guidelines are different for older people. If you’re 60 or older, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend you start treatment if your top blood pressure number is 130 or higher.
The Only Emergency Treatment For High Blood Pressure At Home: Call 9
If you have chronically high blood pressure, you’re probably aware of the scenarios listed above. We didn’t review them to frighten you we simply believe it’s best to start with the risks and warning signs, then work backward to lay out a plan.;
If you’re over the age of 60 and have struggled with high blood pressure in the past, it’s important to know how to treat high blood pressure at home. This is important not only for your personal well being, but for the peace of mind of those who love and care about you.;
Be sure to have Snug installed on your phone, so you can check-in daily. If you miss a check-in, well send a notification to your loved ones telling them to check on you.;
Reminder: In a hypertensive emergency, there is no at-home treatment. Call 911, and go to the hospital. In the case of a hypertensive urgency, the best at-home treatment is long-term blood pressure control, which we’ll review in the next section.
Diagnosing High Blood Pressure
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.
Before having your blood pressure taken, you should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. To get an accurate blood pressure reading, you should be sitting down and not talking when the reading is taken.
Having one high blood pressure reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. Your blood pressure can change throughout the day. Feeling anxious or stressed when you visit your GP can raise your blood pressure .
Therefore, your GP will need to take several readings over a set period of time, usually every month, to see whether your blood pressure level is consistently high.
Blood and urine tests may also be carried out in order to check for conditions that are known to cause an increase in blood pressure, such as kidney infections.
You may also be given a blood pressure device to take home so that you can record your blood pressure level throughout the day. This also helps to identify white coat syndrome and therefore helps to identify the best treatment options for you.
Why Does Hypertension Matter
If you are in this 130/80 range, reducing your blood pressure can help protect you from heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, and even cognitive decline. The goal of the new guidelines is to encourage you to treat your high blood pressure seriously and to take action to bring it down, primarily using lifestyle interventions. “It is well documented that lifestyle changes can lower blood pressure as much as pills can, and sometimes even more,” says Dr. Fisher.
Making those changes can be challenging. More than one woman has woken up in the morning committed to healthy eating only to be derailed by a plate of cookies on a table in the office or a dinner out with friends.
Cut Back On Sugar And Refined Carbohydrates
Many scientific studies show that restricting sugar and refined carbohydrates can help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure.
A 2010 study compared a low-carb diet to a low-fat diet. The low-fat diet included a diet drug. Both diets produced weight loss, but the low-carb diet was much more effective in lowering blood pressure.
The low-carb diet lowered blood pressure by 4.5 mm Hg diastolic and 5.9 mm Hg systolic. The diet of low-fat plus the diet drug lowered blood pressure by only 0.4 mm Hg diastolic and 1.5 mm Hg systolic .
A 2012 analysis of low-carb diets and heart disease risk found that these diets lowered blood pressure by an average of 3.10 mm Hg diastolic and 4.81 mm Hg systolic .
Another side effect of a low-carb, low-sugar diet is that you feel fuller longer, because youre consuming more protein and fat.
Measure Your Blood Pressure On A Regular Basis
Measuring your blood pressure is an important step toward keeping a healthy blood pressure. Because high blood pressure and elevated blood pressure;often have no symptoms, checking your blood pressure is the only way to know for sure whether it is too high.
You can measure your blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure monitor, or you can visit your doctor or nurse to have your blood pressure checked.
If you learn that you have high blood pressure, you should take steps to control your blood pressure;to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Fighting Back Against The Silent Killer
High blood pressure is a symptomless silent killer that quietly damages blood vessels and leads to serious health problems.
While there is no cure, using medications as prescribed and making lifestyle changes can enhance your quality of life and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and more.
Try Meditation Or Deep Breathing
While these two behaviors could also fall under stress reduction techniques, meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention.
Both meditation and deep breathing may activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate, and lowering blood pressure.
Theres quite a bit of research in this area, with studies showing that different styles of meditation appear to have benefits for lowering blood pressure .
Deep breathing techniques can also be quite effective.
In one study, participants were asked to either take six deep breaths over the course of 30 seconds or simply sit still for 30 seconds. Those who took breaths lowered their blood pressure more than those who just sat .
Try guided meditation or deep breathing. Heres a video to get you started.
Bottom line: Both meditation and deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Wear Earplugs When You Sleep
A study published in 2019 in Psychosomatic Medicine shows a link between poor sleep habits and high blood pressure. One of the culprits? Noise! Research suggests that being exposed to noiseeven while sleepingcan increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Thats why the National Sleep Foundation recommends wearing earplugs at night, especially if you live in a noisy environment.
To 129/less Than 80 : You Probably Don’t Need Medication
Your blood pressure is higher than you want, but it’s not full-on high blood pressure. Unless you also have another health condition — like kidney disease or heart problems — your doctor will likely say you don’t need drugs for now.
But don’t ignore it. You’re on the path to high blood pressure, so make some changes to your lifestyle. Cut down on salt and alcohol, get more exercise, and drop pounds if you’re overweight.
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.
Eat Some Dark Chocolate
Yes, chocolate lovers: Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure.
But the dark chocolate should be 60 to 70 percent cacao. A review of studies on dark chocolate has found that eating one to two squares of dark chocolate per day may help lower the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and inflammation. The benefits are thought to come from the flavonoids present in chocolate with more cocoa solids. The flavonoids help dilate, or widen, your blood vessels .
A 2010 study of 14,310 people found that individuals without hypertension who ate more dark chocolate had lower blood pressure overall than those who ate less dark chocolate (
28 ).
For some people, getting a good nights sleep isnt easy. There are many ways to help you get restful sleep. Try setting a regular sleep schedule, spend time relaxing at night, exercise during the day, avoid daytime naps, and make your bedroom comfortable .
The national Sleep Heart Health Study found that regularly sleeping less than 7 hours a night and more than 9 hours a night was associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension. Regularly sleeping less than 5 hours a night was linked to a significant risk of hypertension long term .