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Hypertension And Its Dangers That Affect Our Body

Before we understand what exactly Hypertension is, let’s spare a few moments to understand what ‘Blood pressure’ is.

Blood pressure is the measure of force that is exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. This blood is typically pumped into the blood vessels by the heart and these vessels then carry the blood across all parts of the body.

The blood pressure is recorded in a two-number format and written as a ratio, namely the systolic pressure (numerator) and the diastolic pressure (denominator).

According to the guidelines given by the American Heart Association, if the blood pressure falls in one of the below categories then the condition is called Hypertension:

Stage 1 Hypertension: Systolic: between 130-139 or Diastolic: between 80-89
Stage 2 Hypertension: Systolic: 140 or higher and Diastolic: 90 or higher
Hypertensive crisis: Systolic: Above 180 and Diastolic: Above 120

Thus, Hypertension is nothing but high blood pressure and is a serious condition because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood into the body and if not controlled, can result in an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failures.

Causes

While the exact causes of Hypertension are still unknown, medical practitioners attribute this condition to specific factors namely:

Obesity
Excessive alcohol consumption
Increases salt intake
Smoking
Diabetes
Genetics
Stress
Ageing

Symptoms

While Hypertension doesn’t show any severe sign (which is why it is also called a ‘silent killer’) as such, it is sometimes observed that some people suffering from high blood pressure do show signs of sweating, sleeping problems and anxiety. However, if the Hypertensive crisis condition is reached, the patient may suffer from nose bleeding and headaches.

One of the best ways to keep a check on Hypertension is to check the blood pressure level regularly. This check is done with the help of a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure monitor. While doing this test, doctors keep a blood pressure cuff on the arm. The cuff has a gauge attached to it which measures the pressure in the blood vessels. Many doctors suggest that you should avoid drinking coffee or smoking a cigarette about 30 minutes before taking the test. Doing so can cause a rise in blood pressure on a temporary basis.

Treatment

While many doctors prescribe medication to deal with Hypertension, generally, it is best treated by bringing about a change in lifestyle and improving dietary choices.

Some lifestyle adjustments include:

Engaging in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling or jogging.
Give up smoking.
Reducing salt intake.
Cutting down on alcohol consumption.
Increasing the intake of fresh fruits and veggies, high-fibre and whole-grain foods, low-fat dairy products.
Keeping a check on body weight.

Doctors recommend a ‘DASH – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet for people suffering from high blood pressure which adheres to the above lifestyle adjustments.

Also Read: What is Spirulina: Understanding the Research-Based Benefits and Uses

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Health Buddies: 5 Reasons You Should Exercise With Friends To Beat Tension!

While doctors and healthcare websites can give you a thousand ways to beat tension, why you should exercise, there are several myths that surround these in people having high blood pressure. One of them is that when suffering from hypertension, one must refrain from physical exercise. This is completely untrue. There should be no excuse for skipping physical exercise. Here’s where your friends come in handy!

Reasons why working out with friends is one of the most effective ways to beat tension-

To begin with, any kind of physical exercise be it walking or running will cause a slight increase in blood pressure as the muscles need more blood at that time. However, this kind of increase in blood pressure is only temporary and will not cause any harm in patients with hypertension unless they are exerting themselves too hard. Your blood pressure will return to normal in under 5-10 minutes after you finish your exercise. Plus, while running with your friend, your mood levels will be stable and pleasant.

Doctors suggest that mild exercise and jogging can actually decrease blood pressure in individuals with hypertension and help in its management. By constantly scheduling your jogging sessions with your friend, you also bring discipline into your life.
A healthy friend equals a healthy you! Regular exercise and mild running makes one’s heart stronger and accustomed to physical routine work out. It’s like a training system for your heart and over time, your heart will be able to pump more blood with less exertion or pressure. This is the result you want. Also, read 20 tips for a healthy heart.
If you find that you have hypertension but it is not too severe, then regular exercise and running can help to bring it back to normal and also prevent it from increasing. Consistency is key, which your friend will help you with. Constantly ensure to motivate each other to stay healthy.
Prolonged hypertension puts one at risk of developing other cardiovascular diseases. In such cases, running and physical activity (including mild weight lifting) can significantly cut down the chances of any cardiovascular event.
Exercise helps you maintain your weight for your age and height. As long as you are weight-appropriate, you are already decreasing your risk of umpteen number of diseases including hypertension!