PharmEasy Blog
Decoding The Right Diet For High BP
No diet discussion for High Blood pressure is complete without talking about the DASH diet.
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
This diet is relatively simple and involves:
- Eating more fresh fruits and veggies
- Indulging in low-fat dairy products
- Increasing the intake of nuts, whole grains, and fish
- Lowering the intake of red meat, salt, and high sugar content food items
Reducing the consumption of food items that are high in cholesterol, trans fats, and saturated fat.
Another favourite variation of the DASH diet is the DASH-Sodium diet. This diet refers to cutting the sodium intake per day (to about 2-3 teaspoons, 1500 milligrams). While this reduction doesn’t need to be immediate, you can gradually reduce the sodium intake till your body adjusts to this prescribed goal.
Tips to adapt to the DASH diet:
- Make it a habit of reading product ingredients and shopping for food items that are low in sodium
- Add dry beans to your diet
- Try to use low-fat or zero-fat condiments
- Half your servings of margarine, butter, and salad dressings
- Reduce meat servings to about 6 ounces each day
- Indulge in healthy snacking – choose unsalted nuts, raisins, dry fruits instead of chips, try low or fat-free yoghurt, and plain popcorns without butter
- Turn vegetarian, if possible
Consult a dietician or doctor before you put yourself on a DASH diet. That’s because he/she will accurately be able to tell you what should be your calorie intake per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Simultaneously, specific foods that you need to avoid include:
- Frozen Meals
- Pastries
- Packaged and Processed food
- Soft drinks
- Candy
- Canned beans
- Alcohol
- Sauces, to name a few
Many doctors also recommend a Mediterranean Diet to keep blood pressure and heart ailments at bay.
Some common traits of this diet include:
- Low to moderate consumption of wine and alcohol.
- Increased consumption of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, bread, cereals, and potatoes
- Olive oil to be consumed as a single monounsaturated source of fat
- Consumption of egg restricted to about four times a week to the maximum
- Significant reduction in red meat consumption
- Fish, dairy products, and meat to be consumed in limited to low amounts
Many attribute the benefits of this diet as the sole reason for a low rate of heart diseases in the Mediterranean countries. However, the American Heart Association suggests that further studies and experiments need to be conducted to quantify the benefits of this diet.
Also Read: Can Dehydration Cause High Blood Pressure? A Research-Backed Examination
Keep a track
Many dieticians also suggest tracking how many calories you are eating and drinking per day. Write down whatever you consume each day, this also includes jotting down the portion sizes. It is said that this is one of the best ways to enlighten yourselves about much you are consuming. On the basis of this analysis, you can then work out a plan – on reducing the calorie count and the portion size and finally your blood pressure too!
Also Read: What is the BRAT Diet? Breaking Down its Pros and Cons
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
References
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32330233/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482514/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19843201/
- https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Causes & Diagnosis
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is a condition where a person has high blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. In other words, the passage gets narrowed, which makes it difficult for blood to pass through. This condition is very different from having high blood pressure in general. Genes may play a role in why some people get it.In such a case of hypertension, the pressure in the pulmonary arteries increases abnormally, which results in putting a lot of pressure on the right ventricle of the heart, causing it to expand in size. The right ventricle could gradually lose its ability to pump blood to the lungs which is highly life-threatening. 
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension can occur in individuals of all ages. Usually much more common in young adults and is approximately twice as common in women as in men. Common Symptoms
- Irregular heart palpitations or strong, throbbing sensation in the chest
- Passing out or frequent dizziness
- Progressive shortness of breath during any physical activity or exercise
- Difficulty breathing at rest
- Swelling in your ankles and legs
Causes of Symptoms
The following are some known causes of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension:- Liver diseases or lung conditions: Blood clots in the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver could lead to the development of pulmonary hypertension.
- Heart diseases: Conditions such as aortic valve disease, left heart failure and congenital heart disease could be some of the probable causes for the conditions
- Genes: Most often the condition is inherited from parents but the percentage of such cases are very less.
- Illegal drug use: Continuous usage of drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine leads to long-term damage and can even be life-threatening.
- Arthritis: Sometimes, certain rheumatologic conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis might lead to the pulmonary artery becoming narrow.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The first thing your doctor will enquire about is if you smoke or if your family has a history of such cases. As each of the symptom and cause is identified and carefully assessed, your diagnosis would include the following to determine the severity and treatment required-- Blood tests: Helps detect the presence of HIV, Arthritis or Lupus
- CT Scan: Helps detect the enlarged pulmonary artery and find out the other probable causes for the condition
- Echocardiogram: Helps get a better understanding of the status of the blood pressure
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Helps get a complete overview of the heart’s activity & strain
- Exercise testing: Helps manage the changes in oxygen level, heart function and other things.
If these tests show that you might have Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, your doctor will need to do a right heart catheterization to be sure. If for sure you are diagnosed with the condition, the treatment plan for the same will vary from person to person. Hence, your treatment plan will be specific to your needs. Ask your doctor what your options are and what to expect.One of the best ways to deal with such a condition is by staying active. Simple exercises like taking a walk will help the breathing get better. Just like anyone else, it’s advisable to follow a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
