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Hypertension And Its Dangers That Affect Our Body

Before we understand what exactly Hypertension is, let’s spare a few moments to understand what ‘Blood pressure’ is.

Blood pressure is the measure of force that is exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. This blood is typically pumped into the blood vessels by the heart and these vessels then carry the blood across all parts of the body.

The blood pressure is recorded in a two-number format and written as a ratio, namely the systolic pressure (numerator) and the diastolic pressure (denominator).

According to the guidelines given by the American Heart Association, if the blood pressure falls in one of the below categories then the condition is called Hypertension:

Thus, Hypertension is nothing but high blood pressure and is a serious condition because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood into the body and if not controlled, can result in an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failures.

Causes

While the exact causes of Hypertension are still unknown, medical practitioners attribute this condition to specific factors namely:

  1. Obesity
  2. Excessive alcohol consumption
  3. Increases salt intake
  4. Smoking
  5. Diabetes
  6. Genetics
  7. Stress
  8. Ageing

Symptoms

While Hypertension doesn’t show any severe sign (which is why it is also called a ‘silent killer’) as such, it is sometimes observed that some people suffering from high blood pressure do show signs of sweating, sleeping problems and anxiety. However, if the Hypertensive crisis condition is reached, the patient may suffer from nose bleeding and headaches.

One of the best ways to keep a check on Hypertension is to check the blood pressure level regularly. This check is done with the help of a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure monitor. While doing this test, doctors keep a blood pressure cuff on the arm. The cuff has a gauge attached to it which measures the pressure in the blood vessels. Many doctors suggest that you should avoid drinking coffee or smoking a cigarette about 30 minutes before taking the test. Doing so can cause a rise in blood pressure on a temporary basis.

Treatment

While many doctors prescribe medication to deal with Hypertension, generally, it is best treated by bringing about a change in lifestyle and improving dietary choices.

Some lifestyle adjustments include:

Doctors recommend a ‘DASH – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet for people suffering from high blood pressure which adheres to the above lifestyle adjustments.

Also Read: What is Spirulina: Understanding the Research-Based Benefits and Uses

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