SEO Description: Want to learn more about hypertension and how you can manage it before it's too late? Hijama is here for you! Read this article to learn more.
Introduction
In today’s world, it’s very easy to get stressed out. There’s a lot that can be overwhelming and lead to stress, which then causes various health conditions. Among these stress-related conditions in Hypertension, or simply put, high blood pressure. Hypertension isn’t just caused by stress and can be caused by various other reasons. So, let’s take a look at Hypertension together. This article will teach you what it is, what causes it, and how to manage it. If you’re looking for coaching for well being, Hijama can help you in multiple ways. Now, here’s a deeper look into Hypertension.
What Is Hypertension? “Blood Pressure” is a way to measure the force / pressure of the blood pushing against your blood vessel walls. Hypertension is a condition in which the pressure caused by your blood against your blood vessel walls is high, consistently. This condition is often referred to as a “silent killer” as it can be difficult to detect that something is wrong, while the damage caused still occurs inside your body. When reading your blood pressure, you’ll see two numbers. The top one refers to “systolic blood pressure”, which tells you the pressure created on your blood vessel walls when your heart contracts / beats. The bottom number is “diastolic blood pressure”. This number refers to the pressure on your blood vessel walls when your heart relaxes, between each beat. So, if your reading is around 110/70, it is considered within the normal range. But if it exceeds and say, it is at 135/85, you could have stage 1 hypertension. This is mild. If your reading says 140/35 or higher, it is stage 2 hypertension, which is moderate. If you reach 180/120, it is considered to be a “Hypertensive Crisis”, which means you need to seek emergency care immediately.
What Are The Types Of Hypertension?
In general, there are two types of hypertension you can be diagnosed with:
Primary High Blood Pressure: This is also called “essential”. This type of hypertension is caused by ageing, and unhealthy habits. It is the most commonly seen form of hypertension.
Secondary High Blood Pressure: This type of hypertension is caused by different medical conditions, and can also be caused by medication.
What Happens When Hypertension Is Left Untreated?
Left untreated and unmanaged, hypertension can lead to serious health issues, like:
Heart attack
Stroke
Kidney failure/disease
Eye damage
Vascular Dementia
Complications in pregnancy
Peripheral vascular disease
Does Hypertension Have Noticeable Symptoms? High blood pressure doesn’t usually show obvious symptoms. This is why it’s called a “silent killer”. The only way to truly know if you have hypertension is by measuring your blood pressure regularly. Make sure to know what the numbers mean so you can take precautions accordingly. This way, you can prevent and even limit damage caused.
What To Do If You Have Hypertension
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension, you health care provider will suggest the following:
Make sure to regularly check your blood pressure at home. You can use home blood pressure monitors, they are available widely.
Change your diet to a more healthy one; consume foods that are low in fat and salt.
Reach your set goal body weight, and maintain it.
Try not to drink alcohol too frequently. Men should limit themselves to two drinks a day, and women should limit themselves to one.
Practice physical activity.
If you smoke, quit. It can affect your blood pressure greatly.
Try stress management or anger management if you are prone to rage.
Diets That Can Help With Hypertension
Try to consume foods that are low in salt, fat, and calories. Fresh fruits and vegetables are great, as well as whole-grain foods. Switch to skim milk.
You can use different spices, herbs, and flavourings to make your food taste good without using salt. Optimally, your diet should contain less than 1500 milligrams of sodium daily. Try to avoid outside food , especially fast food. These foods tend to be frozen and processed, so they’ll be packed with salt. Try to use flavours and herbs that don’t contain salt in them to avoid compromising the taste of your food.
Try cutting down on foods that are high in salt and fat, like butter and margarine, fatty meals, whole milk dairy products, fried foods, salad dressings, fast foods, processed food, and salted snacks.
Consult your doctor about whether you should increase potassium in your diet. They will talk to you about the “DASH” diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). It emphasized the need for veggies and fruits, as well as whole grains. It also reduces the total amount of sodium in your diet.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about hypertension, you can take the necessary precautions before it's too late. For herbal remedies and wellness coaching, Hijama is here for you!
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