Hypertension: It’s a common condition affecting a large amount of population. In this condition, the blood flows with a force and often causes pressure on the walls of the blood vessels. This in turn causes pressure on the heart and causes heart ailments in the long run.
What are the symptoms?
There are times when it doesn’t show any presentation. It can go unnoticed for a long time. But some patients show symptoms of headache, short temper, shortness of breath, nose bleed etc.
Here is a range of blood pressure which is considered normal and elevated.
Courtesy: American Heart association.
- What are the risk factors for hypertension?
- Age: As you grow older, you have a higher tendency towards narrowing of the blood vessels and hypertension. Often people around 55 -60 years of age develop hypertension.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Hypertension is a lifestyle associated disease. Lack of exercise or physical activity is a common cause of higher blood pressure.
- Stress: Have you ever noticed a temporary increase in blood pressure whenever you are stressed? If this stressed lifestyle continues for a longer duration, hypertension can become a permanent condition.
- Genetic predisposition: Family history often causes hypertension.
- Ethnic background: Asians and Africans have a higher tendency towards high blood pressure and heart diseases.
- Smoking: Tobacco causes narrowing of the blood vessels and subsequent affects on the heart.
- Obesity: The higher your body weight is, the higher blood volume needs to be pumped and hence pressure on the arterial walls.
- Alcohol: Limited intake is fine, but heavy drinking can be dangerous.
- Diet: Higher salt intake raises the sodium levels in blood .High potassium foods also contribute to a high blood pressure.
Hypertension if uncured can cause complications like heart attack, aneurysm, secondary affect on kidneys and dementia etc.
How can you keep your blood pressure in control?
- Exercise regularly
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Reduce stress levels in your life
- Manage your diet: Sodium intake should be regulated
- Quit smoking
- Regular checkups
