Effectively managing your High Blood Pressure
Filed Under (Health and Fitness) by admin on 10-12-2009
High blood pressure (HBP), also referred to as Hypertension (HTN or HPN) is a medical condition in which the blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater). It is often referred to as “The silent killer” but in reality, nobody actually dies from this condition. The danger in having high blood pressure is the conditions and diseases that arise like coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems. About 1 in 3 adults in the United States has HBP. HBP itself usually has no symptoms. You can have it for years without knowing it. During this time, though, it can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of your body.
The best way to know whether you have high blood pressure or hypertension is by going to the doctor and have your blood pressure checked regularly. Once your doctor has confirmed that you have HBP, you better follow some useful ways like the one below on how you can help manage the problem:
Decreasing your Salt intake
Almost 50% of people who are suffering from high blood pressure are often caused by taking in too much sodium or salt. Health experts often calls people who suffers Hypertension or HBP with too much salt intake are “Salt responders”, the amount of sodium intake of a salt responder dictates their blood pressure levels. It seems that the older you get, the more susceptible you are to the effects of salt. It is wise to choose foods that are low in sodium or are sodium-free, if possible negate the use of salt in preparation of food.
Taking in more Essential Minerals
The two minerals that you should have in abundance in your body are calcium and potassium. Potassium aids in the excretion of excess salt, which is strongly believed to be responsible for promoting hypertension. These two minerals are helpful in easing tension in your body and making your overworked arteries more relaxed, which ensures that your blood can freely move along your blood vessels.
Get in Shape
According to health experts, persons who are above their normal weight are more at risk of suffering from hypertension than a physically fit one. Many believe that increasing your fitness level by performing exercise regularly and participating in physical activities, such as cycling and swimming will make you sweat and increase your heart rate, will surely help in making you lose weight. Just losing five to ten pounds of your weight would have a significant effect on your blood pressure.
A proper diet can make managing high blood pressure much easier. It is recommended to take the DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) if you already have Hypertension. The ideal eating plan to reduce blood pressure is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods, while low in saturated and trans-fats. Many experts also believe that eating a lot of fiber-rich foods can help manage your blood pressure.
The above are just some of the things you can do to better manage your High blood pressure, there are lot more things you can do to cope up with this condition. Always remember that in the first place, prevention is better than cure.
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