Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition that affects 50 million Americans—one in four adults. Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and it contributes to hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis.
A normal blood pressure is less than 130/85.
High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.
If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, then you have prehypertension.
High blood pressure increases your chance (or risk) for getting heart disease and/or kidney disease, and for having a stroke. Hypertension is often called the silent killer. It is especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms.
Causes Of High Blood Pressure: According to National Institutes of Health, the causes for high blood pressure may include narrowing of the arteries, a greater than normal volume of blood, or the heart beating faster or more forcefully than it should. Any of these conditions will cause increased pressure against the artery walls. High blood pressure might also be caused by another medical problem. Most of the time, the cause is not known. Other factors are smoking, obesity, alcohol, stress, sodium intake and inactive lifestyle.
Symptoms
One of the cruel facts of hypertension is that it exhibits no distinctive symptoms. This is why it’s so important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Serious cases of hypertension, which happen infrequently, may produce the following symptoms :
Headaches
Fatigue
Cofusion
Nausea
Tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears)
Visual disturbances
Prevention
You can prevent high blood pressure by: Maintaining a healthy weight. Lose weight if you are overweight, exercising more, Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation, if you drink at all and Eating foods low in salt. All Americans, especially people with high blood pressure, should eat no more than about 6 grams of salt a day, which equals about 2,400 milligrams of sodium. That’s about 1 teaspoon of table salt.
Diet
Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and is low in fat.
Choose foods low in calories and fat.
Choose foods high in starch and fiber: Foods high in starch and fiber, like fruits, vegetables, dry peas and beans, as well as whole-grain cereals, pasta, rice and breads, are excellent substitutes for high fat foods.
Eliminate the use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
Reduce the Intake of Salt: Sodium increases the amount of fluid in your vascular system.
Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasoning blends in cooking instead of salt.
Advice
Exercise Regularly: Exercise increases flexibility and improves circulation.
Reduce the Intake of Salt.
Eliminate the use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
Maintain a Health Weight. Being overweight is associated with high blood pressure.