Understanding High Blood Pressure And Taking A Closer Look At The Causes And Remedies For A Healthier Life

Elevated blood pressure poses serious risks to a person’s health.

Understanding High Blood Pressure And Taking A Closer Look At The Causes And Remedies For A Healthier Life

The majority of heart conditions are attributable to high blood pressure in an individual.

Every 1 out of 3 people in the USA and an estimated one billion people globally are suffering from the condition.

The risk factor associated with high blood pressure.

By blood pressure, we mean the force exerted on the artery walls of the heart during blood flow. 

Unmanaged and untreated high blood pressure increases the probability of stroke and heart failure in people.

Persistent high blood pressure causes lethal conditions, including vision loss, kidney disease, and certain other cardiovascular problems.

In the United States alone, 75 million people, which makes up 29% of the population, are battling elevated blood pressure levels, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Factors elevating the blood pressure levels

The blood pressure can be raised if the blood flow along the arteries is exerting unusual pressure on the artery walls. This can happen if the artery walls become narrow for some reason.

Pressure can also rise if the heart cannot pump the blood with ease due to some medical condition in the body. These include but not limited to obesity, type II diabetes, kidney disease, and thyroid malfunction.

Lifestyle errors also play a contributory role in the condition. Overconsumption of alcohol, tobacco smoking, a high-calorie diet, and being overweight are some of the influencers.

High blood pressure is marked by a systolic pressure above 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure below 80 mm Hg.

The respective pressures above 120mm Hg and 180 mm Hg is diagnosed a hypertensive crisis.

How to identify high blood pressure?

High blood pressure does not come with any outward symptoms. Hence, it is often referred to as the silent killer.

As the blood pressure reaches beyond the 120/80 mm Hg mark, the hypertensive crisis is initiated within the body, this often associates with certain symptoms.

Headache, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, dizziness, nose bleed, breathlessness, and heart palpitations are some of the common signs at this stage.

Threats for women

Different hormonal profile in men and women causes a varying impact of blood pressure between the two genders.

Women can experience high blood pressure due to pregnancy, menopause, or the use of hormonal birth control measures.

High blood pressure in pregnant women induces a condition called preeclampsia, which is a fatal condition for the mother and the unborn child.

Preeclampsia can be identified by symptoms like headache, abdominal pain, blurred vision, and swelling caused by edema.

Natural ways to control the threat.

Certain natural ways and means hold a promise in combating the risk factors of high blood pressure. Taking a closer look at them will help us comprehend better.

Regular walk and exercise are undoubtedly the best natural medicine to counter the issue.

Walking just 30 minutes a day helps in strengthening the heart muscles. 

It promotes efficient pumping and flowing of the blood through the arteries hence, keeping the blood pressure under check.

Cutting down on sodium intake also helps in managing blood pressure. Although the relation between sodium and blood pressure is still unclear, it is wise to follow the recommendation, particularly for individuals who are salt-sensitive.

Lowering the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and quitting smoking helps in attaining manageable blood pressure levels. Intake of sugar and carbohydrates should also be checked

Potassium helps in getting rid of excess sodium from the body. Calcium is known to have a positive effect on maintaining blood pressure levels.

Incorporating more potassium and calcium-enriched food in our diet, such as green vegetables, curd, nuts, seeds, tofu, sardines, and beans, promotes blood pressure management. 

Effective stress management, losing weight, practicing meditation are minor lifestyle modifications that can help people struggling with high blood pressure.