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High Blood Pressure or Hypertension, is a very common occurrence nowadays as we have various choices of food and different types of entertainment. As a result of temptations and false contentment, so many diseases have become household conditions that we must keep an eye out for. So for today, GetDocSays will be sharing with you guys the information you need to equip yourselves with to be able to make better lifestyle choices immediately.
What is Blood Pressure and what is High Blood Pressure?
Blood Pressure is essentially the magnitude of force in which blood is pumped throughout the body via our blood vessels. High blood pressure happens to be an increase in the average blood pressure of a person due to many possibilities. The table below will show you what the average person’s ideal blood pressure should be. Do note however, that one’s normal blood pressure reading can vary depending on mainly height and weight. The taller and heavier a person is, the higher their average blood pressure reading would be. For example, a person with 180+ cm height and weighing around 95 kg would have a regular blood pressure reading of 130/90 mm/Hg. I do stress that the Systolic reading – pressure in arteries when heart beats – needs to be given more importance than the Diastolic reading which signifies the pressure in arteries BETWEEN heartbeats.
When does High Blood Pressure become a problem?
It is an interesting fact that an increase in blood pressure which occurs only rarely does not really pose much of a threat to one’s health. However, the real issue arises when one has a constantly high blood pressure reading over a prolonged period of time. This causes stretching and tearing of the arterial wall tissue beyond the healthy limit, causing substantial damage. This can have severe effects to a person which I shall elaborate in further detail in this article.
Why is Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure Important?
Aside from damaging the inner lining of our blood vessels, causing all sorts of cardiovascular diseases, persistently high blood pressure also tends to lead to severe conditions such as :
- Kidney failure
- Higher risk of Stroke
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Loss of Vision
- Memory loss
- Fluid in the lungs
- Angina
- Peripheral artery disease
Who is at Risk of Developing Hypertension?
Some of the factors that relate closely to hypertension development are :
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Heredity
Parents with high blood pressure could increase the chances of the child of those parents to attain hypertension.
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Age
Age matters in this case where elderly people lose flexibility in their blood vessels as they age and in turn become more prone to damages and repairs take much longer.
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Lack of Exercise
This is a big factor as well. This is because exercising actually helps increase the durability, flexibility and ultimately the endurance levels of one’s blood vessels which can expand the capability and potential of the heart to pump more blood at higher levels of pressure without giving way.
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Diet
Other than that, type of diet is also a crucial point where the intake of food high in salt can sharply increase one’s blood pressure well above normal levels.
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Others
Lastly, we also have Alcoholism and stress that cause spikes in blood pressure. So be sure not to work too hard! Money is important but what’s the point of having so much of it if you end up spending it on treatments, lying on a hospital bed?
How Should You Avoid High Blood Pressure?
Some preventive measures you can take are as follows:
- Eat healthier (medium amount of Salt)
- Regular Exercise
- Manage Stress
- Quit Smoking/Shisha/Vaping
- Limit Alcohol Consumption
- Follow Medical Prescriptions
The above measures do not only aid in keeping your blood pressure normal. They also assist in keeping you fit and healthy at all times, warding off all kinds of diseases that come with an overly sedentary lifestyle that many of us have come to pick up over the years in this tech savvy era.
What if I already have Hypertension?
If you already have high blood pressure, fret not! It is very common nowadays and there are so many ways to keep it under control. It’s not the end of anything. All it means is that you will need to implement urgent lifestyle changes to keep it under control. All the preventive measures mentioned above can be followed as basic advice to those yearning for a steady blood pressure reading with an emphasis on adhering towards your doctor’s medical prescription.
by Thiiban
Ambiverted thinker with a big heart and big dreams. Chronically clumsy but always emotionally aware. I truly believe that with every great opportunity comes great responsibility to do great things. View all articles by Thiiban.
