High blood pressure: are you at risk?
What are the risks for high blood pressure, and how would you know if you are at risk? There are many different causes for high blood pressure. Untreated high blood pressure over time damages blood vessels, and may lead to strokes and kidney failure.
Normal blood pressure is at a reading of 120/80. Any reading above that is considered to be high blood pressure. There are many everyday lifestyle habits that can raise your blood pressure that you may not be aware of. One of those is being overweight and obesity. Anybody who is overweight or obese is at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.
Physical inactivity is also another lifestyle habit that causes many people to develop high blood pressure. Start a healthy diet and start exercising, if you are leading an inactive lifestyle. Even losing a measly 5 kilograms can help you drastically and keep your blood pressure normal.
Anger poses another serious threat to your blood pressure. Uncontrolled anger can lead to heart attacks and strokes, as the blood pressure shoots up tremendously during a state of extreme anger. If you do lose your temper very often, or if you cannot control your anger, you will have to consider a course in Anger Management.
If you are not very physically active, consider starting to be. You can easily adapt an exercise program to your everyday routine; you just have to plan it. Try to do at least thirty minutes of exercise a day, 4 or 5 times per week. This will help lower or control your blood pressure.
Many people want to be healthy, yet they are not concerned with what they eat. Unfortunately being healthy is coupled to eating healthy. If you want to stay healthy, you have to watch what you eat. Having unhealthy eating habits can cause high blood pressure as well. Use less salt or sodium in food and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Using tobacco products is a great risk for developing high blood pressure. Smoking is a very common addiction and many smokers may have high blood pressure and not even know it. There are many ways to quit the habit of nicotine or the use of any tobacco product.
In the fast-paced life we are living today, every one is stressed at some point during their lives. You may be stressed every day or just once in a while. Whatever the case may be, you can develop high blood pressure through stress. If you find yourself stressed more often than not, consider some relaxation techniques. Meditation is a great way to start. If this does’nt work, consider something different. Even a hobby like gardening, or the interaction with a pet or pets have valuable therapeutic spin-offs.
Do you drink quite a bit? Drinking alcohol also causes high blood pressure. More than two drinks for a man and more than one for a woman can raise their blood pressure. If you drink more than this, consider cutting back. Once again, if you are addicted to drinking, you can find many ways to help you quit.
These are very common lifestyle habits that cause high blood pressure. If you are at risk for high blood pressure or already have it, consider purchasing a home blood pressure monitoring device. This can help ensure that whatever habits you are changing or modifying are working.
Sometimes the above lifestyle changes are not enough. You may have to use medication or incorporate medication with your exercise routine, etc. The best way to know this is to visit your doctor. Ask any and all questions you are concerned about. Your doctor will happy to assist you in helping you have a healthier and active lifestyle.
Disclaimer:
I do not intend to give medical advice. The above are recommendations only. You need to consult with your family doctor before embarking on any training program, or before making any dietary changes.
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