You Can Manage Your Own Hypertension
Posted on 26. Nov, 2009 by Kathy Forcey in Diet & Nutrition
It is commonly believed that high blood pressure just comes with old age or being obese. While these are certainly factors, most people don’t realize that even children as young as six can suffer from hypertension. Many people who suffer from high blood pressure never seek treatment simply because they don’t even know they have it. Given this disturbing fact, the best time to manage hypertension is before it has a chance to develop.
Unless you know you are at risk for high blood pressure, chances are you won’t think to check for it. Hypertension by itself generally does not have symptoms that cause the pain or discomfort that illnesses such arthritis or heartburn would entail. In fact, by the time you go to see the doctor for an unrelated symptom, you probably have had hypertension for a while.
While in many cases, the causes of hypertension may be unknown and may not result in immediate consequences, hypertension itself can lead to serious health conditions such as stroke, heart attack and even heart or kidney failure. That is why it is so important to get regular checkups and monitor for any changes in your blood pressure.
With high blood pressure, the damage to your arteries and heart is a very dangerous consequence. The force of the blood against the arterial walls as the heart beats to push it through can weaken both the heart and the. When hypertension is present, the load on the heart increases the risk for heart failure.
High sodium consumption, excessive alcohol consumption and an inactive lifestyle are the leading factors that contribute to high blood pressure. By refraining from these high-risk behaviors, you can make a difference in your health and not only manage hypertension, but significantly reduce the risk for developing it later on if you don’t already have it.
You can manage hypertension by reducing some of the risk factors. Start by eating healthier foods. The DASH diet is specifically designed to address high blood pressure by emphasizing fruits, vegetables, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, nuts and legumes. You’ll also need to ramp up your level of activity. Take a nice long walk after dinner and slowly increase your pace each day.
Unfortunately hypertension is a disease that not curable in the truest sense of the word. It can however be kept under control through medications that your doctor will prescribe based on your personal needs. Diet and exercise are frequently recommended as necessary supplemental ways to manage hypertension.
Related posts:
Leave a reply