High Blood Pressure – Causes and Treatment

About a million suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension worldwide. It is a condition in which the force of your blood against the walls of your artery is so high that it leads to conditions like heart diseases. People suffer from hypertension due to many habits like smoking, drinking, and unhealthy eating. The worst part is that many people do not experience any symptoms even though they fall in the high blood pressure range. It can have disastrous consequences for their health in the long run.

Can you prevent yourself from developing? Is this condition treatable? Let’s find out more about it.

What are High Blood Pressure Causes

There are a range of factors that can lead to high blood pressure. They are:

1. People who are above the age group of 60 years have a high risk of hypertension. It is especially true for women.

2. If someone in your family has this condition, your chances of developing it becomes high.

3. Overweight or obese individuals are highly prone to hypertension as they need more blood for the circulation of oxygen in their tissues.

4. Habits like chewing tobacco and smoking can damage the linings of the walls of your arteries. Hence, it increases the chances of developing this disease.

5. If your diet has too much sodium in it or too less potassium then also you can become prone to hypertension.

6. People belonging to african heritage are especially vulnerable to developing hypertension at earlier stages in their life.

What Are High Blood Pressure Symptoms

Person suffering from headache, Credit: Pixabay

Individuals who have hypertension show the following symptoms:

1. Nosebleed

2. Exhaustion

3. Headaches

4. Difficulty with vision

5. Pain in the chest

6. Difficulty in breathing

7. Presence of blood in urine

8. Irregular heartbeats

Symptoms of high blood pressure that are not noticeable include difficulty in sleeping, dizziness, sweating, nervousness and anxiety.

Is There a High Blood Pressure Treatment?

There are various ways by which you can treat and prevent yourself from developing this complicated health condition.

1. Shed some weight

2. Consume a well-balanced and healthy diet

3. Lower the amount of sodium in your diet

4. Avoid alcohol and quit smoking

1.   Shed Some Weight

Lose weight, Credit: Pixabay

Being overweight is one of the biggest causes of hypertension. You need to bring down your weight if you are overweight. Did you know that losing just a few pounds can tremendously impact your blood pressure in a positive manner? Your waistline should not exceed 40 inches. Exercising for about 30 minutes a day can help you in maintaining your weight. Indulge in some moderate to intense physical activity daily and you will find your blood pressure coming back to normal.

2.   Consume a Well-Balanced and Healthy Diet

Fruits and vegetables, Credit: Pixabay

Eating healthy is the best thing that you can do for your body. Your diet should comprise mainly of wholegrains, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Do not eat food items that have high cholesterol and fat in them. When you shop for food, read their labels carefully to ensure that you are purchasing only the healthiest foods.

3.   Lower the Amount of Sodium in Your Diet

Salt and spices, Credit: Pixabay

You can boost your heart health and lower down your blood pressure by just minimizing the amount of sodium in your diet. In fact, you can notice a reduction of around 5-6 mm Hg if you eat less salt. Season your food instead of adding salt and soon you will notice the desired difference in your blood pressure.

4.   Avoid Alcohol and Quit Smoking

Alcohol and cigarette, Credit: Pixabay

Limiting your alcohol intake throughout the week can bring down your blood pressure by about 4mm Hg. alcohol significantly raises the blood pressure so keep a check on it. Worse than alcohol is smoking as it is the major contributor to a host of heart diseases. Try quitting it as soon as possible.

You can easily save yourself from falling victim to hypertension by following a healthy lifestyle which has you indulging in 30 minutes of workout daily. Inculcating healthy living habits will go a long way in preventing you from developing hypertension.