There are over 103 million adults in America that are challenged with hypertension or high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force exerted across the blood vessel wall. Hypertension is elevation of your blood pressure across that blood vessel wall. We assess two different numbers to determine your blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the number on top, which is the blood pressure at which your heart is beating. The diastolic pressure is the bottom number, which is the blood pressure or force created when your heart is resting.
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or less in adults less than 65 years old. Borderline blood pressure is 121-130/80s. Stage 1 hypertension is 131-140/80-90. Stage 2 blood pressure is 140/90 or more. Stage 3 is hypertensive crisis (>180/100),and requires immediate medical attention. There are specific guidelines for what is normal for older patients based on their medical history and must be determined in consultation with a physician.
A diagnosis of high blood pressure is made typically after two separate readings on two separate days of elevated blood pressure.
The risk factors for hypertension include family history, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, increased sodium intake (>1500mg), and heavy alcohol use. It is not recommended for women to drink more than one alcoholic beverage daily and men no more than two alcoholic drinks a day. Heavy consumption of alcohol has been linked to having hypertension.
Smoking, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea are also risk factors for developing hypertension. The complications of having hypertension include, but not limited to, having a heart attack, a stroke, kidney disease, heart failure, and even dementia. When you do not treat or manage your blood pressure, you are at increased risks of all of these diseases.
There are various treatments for hypertension. The treatment regimen may include but not be limited to medications, exercise regimen, dietary regimen and changes, and even relaxation techniques to aide in the aforementioned. The correct regimen for you can only be determined in conjunction with consultation with a physician.
Cardiovascular exercise has shown to be very beneficial in helping to treat and control high blood pressure. Patients should only start an exercise regimen under the supervision of a physician, once they have been given the diagnosis of high blood pressure. Completing at least 150 minutes per week in cardiovascular activity has been shown to decrease high blood pressure when performed on a consistent basis. You can divide it up into 4 or 5 days of the week, just so that most days of the week you are conditioning your heart through cardiovascular exercise.
FOODS you should avoid with HYPERTENSION:
DASH
Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension – meal plan characterized by decreasing or limiting red meat intake, sodium intake and sweets or added sugar intake.
Processed and canned meats like Vienna sausages have high amounts of sodium in them. Potato chips also have high amounts of sodium. Electrolyte replacement drinks such as Gatorade have hidden amounts of sodium as well. I encourage you to be diligent about checking the labels of dietary drink supplements to be certain of the sodium intake, as well as caffeinated drinks that may also contribute to elevating your blood pressure. Tomato sauces, pickles, frozen pizza, deli meat, canned soups and some packaged food scan also have a high sodium content.
Hypertension is infamously known as the “silent killer.” This is because there are not typically many signs of symptoms that allow you to be aware that your blood pressure is elevated. Some people may have a headache or feel fatigued. However, many people live life daily not knowing their blood pressure is elevated. It is in recognition and awareness of this disease, as well as in monitoring and knowing your family history, that may afford us the chance to fight this disease and prevent complications.
Knowledge is power. We must utilize it to help control, manage and hopefully most importantly prevent disease in some if we can avoid it. Preventing hypertension is possible in some cases. If you know that you have family history of hypertension, I encourage you to purchase a blood pressure monitor to keep in your home and consistently monitor your blood pressure. There are lifestyle and dietary changes that can be made in some people to prevent the diagnosis of high blood pressure.
If you already have high blood pressure, I encourage you to definitely keep a blood pressure cuff in your home, check your blood pressure regularly (at least 3 days a week) and keep a log of the readings. Be sure that your blood pressure is controlled. If you are having any concerning symptoms such as headache, chest pain, dizziness or fatigue, check your blood pressure right away and notify your physician.
