It
is highly alarming the way high blood pressure is infiltrating the
humanity these days. A hypertensive will assume he is the only one in this type
of situation; however, millions of people throughout the globe are in the same
situation. According to the recent survey by UN, one in three persons in the all
over the globe is in the same situation.
The existence of high blood pressure is secondary to another disease or disorder, and usually
disappears once the underlying condition is controlled or cured. Hence, it is usually
accompanied with:
·
possibility of cardiovascular disease,
·
congestive heart failure,
·
peripheral vascular (blood vessel) disease, and
·
Increase of renal (kidney) failure,
usually accompanied wth Kidney or endocrine disease
·
Sleep apnea
·
Thyroid disorders and
hyperparathyroidism
·
Cirrhosis of the liver
·
Cushing disease (in which the
body produces excess steroids)
·
Pheochromocytoma
(adrenaline-producing tumor)
·
Coarctation of the aorta (a
condition in which the aorta is pinched, constricted or narrowed at some point
along its length, often resulting in high blood pressure in the arms and low blood pressure in the legs)
Although the symptoms of high blood pressure are
not specific, the best way of attacking it is prevention.
It is quite possible for someone to have high blood pressure (also called hypertension)
and not know that you have it! Most people who have hypertension don't know they
have it; however, there are signs of extremely high blood pressure
which you should be on look-out for. We will discuss these signs
later.
According
to the adage, which says”You are
what you eat”, what we eat plays a large role in preventing, controlling and
treating high blood pressure. According to the National High Blood Pressure Education Program (NHBPEP), the ability to follow
the following dietary procedures normally has tremendous impact on the existence
of high blood pressure in our life:
Obese people are two to six times more
likely to develop high blood pressure than people who are not. It has been shown through
the five-year Primary Prevention of High Blood Pressure Trial that shedding as much as six pounds is sufficient to bring your blood pressure to an appreciable manageable
level. To achieve this:
ü Begin to reduce those calories by avoiding sweets and fats, and,
ü Set a target of shedding 5 to 10 pounds within the next six
months a primary goal, if you are overweight
Reducing your blood pressure is through a modest minimization of salt consumption may help
a lot. In order to achieve this, consume more of
fresh
and whole foods, and try as much as possible
to avoid
foods in boxes and cans and fast food so
as to reduce your salt intake.
Stress can make blood pressure go up and over time may contribute to the cause of high blood pressure.
However, for more information on
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Majority of fruits and vegetables are very high in potassium which
is good for wellbeing. A few studies have shown that people with a low potassium
intake have a higher risk of high blood pressure. The existence of fibre in
fruits and vegetables make them sources of remedy for people with high blood pressure. This is also due to variety of nutrients and
phyto-chemicals contained in them.
Increase in calcium intake may also help in lowering blood pressure. This is especially advisable
for people who rarely consume milk. However, it should be noted that Calcium supplements do NOT appear to reduce risk, so adding a glass of milk to
your meals is another way of strengthen your bones and blood vessels.
The omega-three fatty acids found in saltwater fish appear to
have a role in lowering blood pressure. Abstain from taking fish-oil
pills, especially without a physician's approval, since there is possibility of
interaction with other medications. It is advisable to go for seafood as dinner
two times every week: it helps to keep your blood pressure under control.
A
Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension has been
shown to lower blood pressure and probably will decrease the risk of
developing high blood pressure (New England Journal
of Medicine, April 17, 1997). To eat the DASH way, follow these guidelines:
==>
Center your meals around
carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, legumes and vegetables.
==>
Use meat as part of a meal, not
the primary focus.
==>
Enjoy fruit for snacks and
desserts.
The
DASH plan encourages consumption ofmore fruits and vegetables than normally recommended; at least eight servings aday are needed for results.
What
we eat has been proven to lower our blood pressure levels, and most likely will also help prevent
the onset of high blood pressure. You need to start a trend for
yourself and your children today.
Finally,
there is a new way that will help you in conveniently preventing/controlling any
symptoms of high blood pressure. To
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