Health experts define healthy blood pressure as less than 120 mm hg. Anyone whose blood pressure is between 130 and 139 mm ft or higher should consult a doctor immediately. It can also indicate an underlying health problem such as hyperthyroidism or renal disease.
What are the treatments for high blood pressure?
Treatments for high blood pressure include healthy lifestyle changes and medicines. Changes to diet and exercise can be very effective. The changes can control or lower your blood pressure. It is possible that high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or medication, and treating that condition or stopping the medicine may lower your blood pressure.
How common are high blood pressure and kidney disease?
About 108 million people have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure
The high blood pressure test results have two numbers separated by slashes. Your health care professional will diagnose you with high blood pressure if your blood pressure readings consistently exceed 130 or higher when tested repeatedly in a health care office. Health care professionals measure blood pressure using a cuff. A blood pressure cuff can also be bought to monitor blood pressure.
Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight is a risk factor for high blood pressure. Your risk increases even more if you’re overweight.
Dangers and side effects of hypertension
High blood pressure can have serious effects on the cardiovascular system. A blockage in the arteries can lower or prevent blood flow to the brain, leading to a stroke if it occurs. It can be life-threatening.
Treatment and prevention of high blood pressure
High blood pressure can be controlled or managed by changing your lifestyle.
What medications are used to treat high blood pressure?
This inhibits the production of angiotensin II in the blood. It blocks the same hormone from binding to receptors in the blood vessels. This prevents calcium from entering the muscles of your heart and blood vessels. Excess salt in your body can be flushed out with water pills. Talk to your healthcare provider about what side effects are possible when you take blood pressure medicine.
Complications of high blood pressure
High blood pressure can cause many different kinds of cardiovascular disease if left untreated.
Quit smoking and limiting alcohol
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will most likely tell you to quit. It can damage the body’s tissues and harden blood vessel walls.
What is high blood pressure?
Hypertension can put pressure on the arteries. This can cause various health problems, some of which can be life threatening. Its circulation provides oxygen to the vital organs of the body as it travels. Sometimes a problem in the body makes it harder to pump blood.
Narrow blood vessels, also known as arteries, create more resistance for the flow of blood. The higher your blood pressure is, the narrower your arteries are. The pressure can cause health problems, including heart disease, over the long term. Hypertension treatment includes prescription medications and healthy lifestyle changes. Taking regular blood pressure measurements can help you and your doctor notice any changes in your blood pressure.
High blood pressure during pregnancy
High blood pressure can be dangerous to both the baby and the birthing parent. Whoever becomes pregnant is more likely to develop complications from high blood pressure. Babies born to hypertensive birth parents may have a low birth weight or be born prematurely. Often the condition resolves itself after the birth of the baby. It is possible that developing hypertension during pregnancy increases the risk of developing hypertension later in life. While some people develop hypertension, others do not. High blood pressure can cause several types of health problems.
Diet
Managing the diet can be an effective way of preventing and treating high blood pressure.
What can I do to control my blood pressure?
Limit your use of salt in cooking and at the table. Canadians should eat less of 2,300 mg of salt a day, which is about 1 5 t of salt from processed foods and salt added during food preparation and at the dinner table. Unless you’re taking a medication that interacts with potassium, eat foods high in potassium such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods.
Smoking, alcohol use, poor food choices, and watching too much television are all ways to cope with stress. Finding relief by doing physical activity, socializing, and laughing is healthy. Get some tips on healthy eating and learn more about the dash eating plan which can help lower your blood pressure. If you don’t smoke, reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke. If you drink, don’t drink more. Drink plenty of water and pace yourself to limit your intake. Get advice on relaxation and mindfulness from people living with heart disease and stroke.
Damaged heart
Hypertension makes your heart work harder. An oversized heart increases your risk of having a heart attack.
How to understand high blood pressure readings
It’s common for doctors to not treat elevated blood pressure with medication. Rather, your doctor may encourage lifestyle changes that help you decrease your blood pressure. For an accurate reading, it’s important that you have a cuff that fits you. An inaccurate cuff may cause inaccurate readings. Systolic pressure – the number of pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps out blood – is 120 to 129. The diastolic number is between 81 and 90. In this range, the blood pressure requires urgent medical attention. If your child is asked to monitor their blood pressure, ask their doctor for the healthy ranges.
Plant-based foods
Whoever includes animal products in their diet should cut back on processed meat.
Primary high blood pressure
The exact cause of primary high blood pressure is unknown. Many factors increase your chances of developing the disease. Afro-American and South Asian families seem to suffer from this condition.
Drink caffeine in moderation
If you drink more than four cups of coffee a day, your blood pressure may increase. Please limit your daily intake of coffee and other beverages that contain caffeine such as soft drinks and cola.
Complications
Excessive pressure can cause damage to blood vessels. It can also affect vital organs. Early diagnosis and management of blood pressure can help prevent many health complications.
Can I prevent high blood pressure?
Eating right, getting the right amount of exercise, and managing your salt intake are some of the things that are included.
Chronic Hypertension
During pregnancy, high blood pressure increases the risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and placental abruption. High blood pressure can reduce the flow of blood to the placenta. Because of this, the fetus may not get enough nutrients and oxygen for growth. If your blood pressure is 130 mm Hg or higher, your doctor may recommend starting or continued taking blood pressure medications during pregnancy. Throughout your pregnancy, your blood pressure should be checked.
A delivery may be needed earlier if you or the fetus develops complications. After your delivery, you will have to monitor your blood pressure at home for 1 to 2 weeks. In the weeks after a child’s birth, blood pressure may increase.
The medication may need to be retaken or your dosage may need to been adjusted. If you took blood pressure medication before you got pregnant, even if your blood pressure is currently normal, you have been diagnosed with chronic hypertension. Your blood pressure may also be monitored at home. Ultrasound examinations may be done throughout pregnancy to track the growth of the fetus. If you suspect growth problems, you may have other tests to monitor the health of the foetus in the third trimester of pregnancy. It also increases the risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and cesarean birth during pregnancy. Your blood pressure may also be monitored at home.
Blood pressure checks during pregnancy
Keep an eye on your blood pressure during pregnancy to reduce your risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension. A serious condition called preeclampsia can result where there is a problem with the placenta.
Research shows the benefits of controlling high blood pressure
Low systolic blood pressure significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in adults 50 and older. A related study showed that lowering sytolic pressure to less than 120 beats the risk of mild cognitive impairment.
Physical activity
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. Aerobic activities include biking, swimming, walking, and weight training.
Essential (primary) hypertension
Senior citizens are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure ; non-Hispanic black individuals have a higher incidence of low blood pressure. Living with obesity can lead to a few heart problems including hypertension. High sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure. There is a higher risk of developing heart disease if you have a history of high blood pressure ; you should consult your doctor if you are concerned about high blood pressure, or if you think you may have it.
What diet helps manage high blood pressure?
Ideally the recommended amount of salt in your diet should be less than 1500 milligrams per day. Whole grain rice and pasta, fresh vegetables and fruit, and skim milk are all lower in salt, carbohydrate and calories. The DASH diet makes it easier to eat less salt and sodium since it is rich in fruits and vegetables. Ask your doctor if you should increase the amount of potassium in your diet.
Pregnancy
It can cause health problems at any time in your life. High blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms. A severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause serious complications for you and your baby during pregnancy. Others develop it during pregnancy for the first time. High pressure can also happen during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. Pressure is the force of blood pushing against the wall of blood vessels called arteries. They bring blood from the heart to the lungs where it picks up oxygen and then moves to the organs and tissues. It is the pressure on the artery wall when the heart relaxes between contractions. How often should a woman check her blood pressure during pregnancy? Sometimes the blood pressure fluctuates during the day. If you have a high reading, another high reading may be taken later during your office visit.
It is used to power organs and tissues. Blood vessels called veins return blood to the heart. The first number is the pressure against the arteries when the heart stops. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure when the heart relaxes between contractions and conduction times. If you are at high risk for stroke you may also need to have your blood pressure checked at night when you are home with your family.
What if lifestyle changes don’t help lower my blood pressure?
Your healthcare provider will prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure if diet and exercise do not work. Be sure to follow your physician’s instructions for dosing.
Diagnosing high blood pressure
Your GP will need to take several readings over a period of time usually every month to see if your blood pressure is consistently high. Tests of blood and urine are also carried out in order to check for conditions known to cause an increase in blood pressure such as kidney infections. You may also be given a blood pressure meter to take home to record your blood pressure levels throughout the day. Ask your doctor when you’re next due for a check. You should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. You should be sitting down and not talking when the blood pressure reading is taken.
Tips for taking blood pressure medication
Untreated high blood pressure can increase your risk of health problems. If you take blood pressure medication and your blood pressure goes down, it means that lifestyle changes are working for you. Healthy lifestyle changes may help you lower the dose you need to take. This helps you to prevent falls and lightheadedness. Be sure to refill your medication before you run out and take it with you when traveling. Before surgery ask your doctor if you should take blood pressure medication on the day of the operation. Before having a baby ask whether you should take it before or after giving birth.
Your body’s vascular system changes with age. Atherosclerotic stiffness causes blood pressure to rise. High blood pressure, also known as the silent killer, doesn’t cause illness if you can see it. If high blood pressure isn’t controlled by lifestyle changes and medication, it can lead to serious health problems including heart disease and stroke. Learn how lifestyle changes like getting more exercise and less salt may help reduce high blood pressure.
What should I avoid eating if I have high blood pressure or kidney disease?
Avoid foods and beverages high in salt if you have kidney disease. Alcoholic drinks should not exceed two per day for men and one per day for females. Eating more protein than your body needs may cause your kidney function to decline faster than normal.
Exercise
If you have low blood pressure, speak to your doctor or nurse before starting any new exercise. It should be safe for you to start increasing your physical activity to help reduce your high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor and nurse before starting anything new.
What are the types of high blood pressure?
Your physician will diagnose you with one of two types of high blood pressure. Age and not getting enough exercise are some of the causes of primary high blood pressure . Secondary high blood pressure can be caused by different medical problems, for example, renal or hormonal problems, or sometimes by a drug you’re taking.
Is menopause a key risk factor?
Research shows that men are more likely to experience high blood pressure before middle age than females. However, health experts disagree on whether it’s due to menopause or not. Some argue that hormonal factors and the specific presence of estrogen help protect people from high blood pressure until menopause. When menopause occurs, it makes women’s cardiovascular disease the main risk factor. Others suggest that other factors such as body mass index and aging could increase the risk of heart disease around this time.
Thiazide diuretics
The diuretics help the kidneys to eliminate salt and water from the blood, thereby reducing blood volume and pressure. A few people may persist with low blood potassium, which can affect heart and kidney function.
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
High blood pressure usually doesn’t have any signs. The only way to know if you have it is to get regular blood pressure checks. Your provider will use a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and a gauge. Before making a diagnosis, he or she will take two or more readings at separate appointments. The health care provider compares the blood pressure reading to what is normal for other kids of the same age, height, and gender.
If your blood pressure is slightly high
If your doctor feels that the risks of cardiovascular disease are low, then you can make simple lifestyle changes to lower your body’s blood pressure.
Increasing physical activity
Exercise can help lower blood pressure and strengthen your cardiovascular system naturally. Aim to get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. It takes about 30 minutes per week. In addition to helping you lose weight if your doctor recommends it.
Natural remedies
There are many supplements for meditation, yoga, tai chi, and passive listening. The national center for complementary and integrative health says there is insufficient evidence to confirm that these can make a difference in health. It also warns that some supplements can have adverse effects such as raising blood pressure or interacting with drugs. Whoever considers an alternative therapy should first consult their doctor.
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
As a general rule, hypertension is silenced. Many people will not experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms may become obvious after years or even decades. Symptom of severe hypertension include flashing blood spots in the eyes subconjunctival hemorrhage and dizziness according to the American heart association. Severe hypertension doesn’t typically cause nosebleeds or headaches except when someone is in high blood pressure. The best way to know if you have hypertension is to get regular blood pressure measurements. A majority of doctors take a blood pressure reading at every visit. This helps you and your doctor stay on top of any potential problems before they become problematic.
Is high blood pressure genetic?
Hypertension can run in families and people from certain ethnic and racial backgrounds appear to have a higher risk of developing it. Family members often share similar lifestyles such as dietary choices and activities.
Measuring your blood pressure at home
Masked hypertension is a condition known as this. Your doctor may ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home in case you have a higher risk of heart disease or stroke. It is important to make sure that your home monitor is taking accurate blood pressure readings so that your healthcare provider can get a complete picture of your blood pressure.
Caffeine
It was concluded that a moderate intake of coffee appears safe for people with high blood pressure. Studies into the connection between caffeine and blood pressure have produced contradictory results.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.