High Blood Pressure Prevention And Treatment.
When high blood pressure is consistently elevated it is known as hypertension. High blood pressure can happen to just about anyone. In fact, millions of Americans are affected by high blood pressure. Race, age and genetics all play an important role in determining if you are at risk. Generally, men experience high blood pressure when they are younger, while women are hit by it later in life. In fact, women are more susceptible to it when they are pregnant, on birth control or after menopause. Older individuals are much more likely than young adults to develop this disease. Unfortunately in recent years, hypertension has been on the rise. Some studies show an increase of 30% in the US without any signs of these numbers decreasing.
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is the amount of pressure exerted
on the arteries. High blood pressure occurs when blood
vessels narrow. There are many reasons why this narrowing
occurs. First, some people are genetically predisposed
to hypertension. If one or both parents have high blood
pressure your risk is increased. If you are not sure,
you may wish to ask your immediate and extended family
if they suffer from hypertension.
So what is considered a healthy blood pressure reading?
120/80 is considered perfect.
Anything over 140/90 is considered high blood pressure.
The top number is called systolic which stands for the
pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps the blood.
The bottom number which is called diastolic pressure,
stands for the pressure in the arteries as your heart
relaxes. If you suffer from high blood pressure there
may not be any signs and symptoms. This is why it is so
important to check with your doctor each and every time
you go for a check up. Catching it early is important
because hypertension can do permanent damage to your health.
Some people suffer from low blood pressure which is termed hypotension. If you have hypotension you may feel tired and sluggish a lot of the time. This is usually nothing to be alarmed about. Low blood pressure is a reading that is below 90/60. Low Blood pressure means less stress is placed on the heart and blood vessels which is great for you cardiovascular health. If your blood pressure becomes too low you will feel dizzy and will want to discuss this with your doctor.
How To Prevent High Blood Pressure.
Although some factors can not be controlled such as heredity, gender, race and age, many risk factors can be controlled. Below is an important list of high risk factors you should be aware of and ways to combat high blood pressure.
Treating High Blood Pressure• Nicotine causes blood vessel to reduce in size and that increases your blood pressure.
• Studies show, the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk for hypertension.
• Some studies show coffee can increase your risk.
• Keep your weight within a healthy range for your age and height.
• If you love salty foods, go easy on the sodium.
• Oral contraceptives can increase your risk.
• Stress can increase your risk of high blood pressure. I f you are under stress find ways
to manage it.
• Get eight hours of sleep.
• Check your blood pressure often. Home blood pressure monitors are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
• Check your family history to find out if you are at risk
• Pregnant women should be aware that during this time they may experience raised
blood pressure. Speak with your doctor about ways to combat this.
• Watch your cholesterol levels.
• Consume healthy natural and whole foods.
• Exercise to keep your blood pressure in check.
Remember, the early you detect this disease the less likely you will sustain permanent damage to your organs. Treating it early will decrease your risk for complications such as heart attack, stroke and organ failure. Your doctor may choose to use a combination of drugs to control your individual case. Here is a list of popular treatments used today.
• Diuretics - Diuretics are prescribed to flush out you sodium intake.There are many natural products on the market that make claims. Just because something is “natural” does not mean it is safe or even good for you. Always check with your doctor first.
• Calcium Channel Blockers- Calcium helps the heart muscles to relax
• Anxiety medication-Since stress can be linked to high blood pressure, this type of
medication is often helpful.
• Alpha Blockers-Helps the blood vessels to relax, allowing the pressure to decrease.
• Beta Blockers-Cause the heart to pump at a slower pace, which also causes the
pressure to decrease.
• ACE Inhibitors-Blocks the production of hormones that cause blood vessels to
contract..
• Vasodilators-Relaxes muscles around blood vessels.
