High blood pressure is caused by built up force in arteries due to kinks. Like a kink in a hose, this causes your fluids to move through the tubes at a higher strain than usual.
Blood pressure is measured in two increments that are separated by a slash such as 120/80. The first number represents the systolic increment which is the highest point of resistance when your heart is pumping out fluid.
The second number is the diastolic number which is the force when your heart is filling with fluid or the relaxation between two beats. These two measurements are combined to calculate your vessel's inner strains.
A normal measurement is less than 120/80 while the high end is at 140/90. If your number is between 120/80 and 140/90, you may have prehypertension which is a precursor to high blood pressure.
Your measurement is found by placing a cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of fluid. This can be performed by your doctor during your next visit.
Also, many grocery stores and pharmacies have a machine cuff that will take this measurement for you and print you off a receipt with your outcome. Both are generally reliable sources.
After the age of 18, you should have your pressure checked at least once every two years. If you have had problems with this area of your health, you may want to do it even more frequently.
If you allow these problems to persist, you may damage your vessels. This in turn raises your risk of stroke, kidney failure, heart disease and heart attack.
This is also a very dangerous health predicament because there are not usually any signs or symptoms. This is another reason why it is so important to have your blood pressure checked regularly and frequently.
There are many available treatments. Treatment begins with personal changes you can choose to adjust in your lifestyle that will prevent further worsening and can also reduce your risk of heart disease.
If further intervention is necessary, there are also many medicinal substances that can help control the situation. Both changes in your lifestyle and medicine are suggested to help you.
The more lifestyle changes you make, the less medicine you may need to take. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to eat healthily and to exercise regularly.
These adjustments in health patterns include not smoking cigarettes or using any tobacco products. You may need to lose weight if you are overweight.
Exercising regularly is essential and eating a healthy diet that includes many various fruits and vegetables that are low in fat. You should also limit the sodium in your diet as well as the alcohol and caffeine you intake.
There are also many exercises and techniques that can help you relax and reduce the stress your body experiences on a daily basis. Yoga and breathing techniques are a good way to rid your body of extra tension it may be carrying.
Tobacco is especially important to rid from your habits. The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products causes your vessels to shrink and constrict and for your heart to beat faster, temporarily raising your blood pressure. You can significantly and immediately lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack by quitting the use of tobacco products for smoking, chewing, etc.
If you need to lose weight, regular exercise is a good way to go about it. This is another immediate way to reduce your blood pressure.
Not everyone is affected by sodium, but it can increase strain in some people. Most Americans with healthy blood pressure should limit their sodium to 2,300 mg per day.
African Americans, older Americans and people with blood pressure problems should limit their sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day. You may need to adjust those numbers to meet your personal needs.
However, be sure to not add salt to your food. Check food labels for sodium, and just be aware of what you are putting into your body.
You should also know that some medications contain high amounts of sodium. Additionally, be aware that some foods already have added amounts of sodium such as chips, bread, canned foods, etc.
Alcohol also causes the blood pressure to rise in most people. It can be limited, but it is best to quit drinking altogether.
Stress may also affect it. To help reduce stress, be sure to make exercising and relaxation techniques weekly to rid the body of excess tension.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry has worked as a nurse practitioner for the last 16 years. He has worked in local clinics and the ER and recommends looking into high blood pressure remedies to avoid a fatal heart attack.
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