Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure, which means your heart is working harder than it should to pump blood through your arteries. The constant pressure will accumulate damage to your circulatory system which then leads to various health conditions if left untreated. The chance of developing hypertension increases with age, so it's recommended to have your blood pressure checked by a medical professional more regularly as you get older.
Measuring your blood pressure will often require multiple measurements to get a stable reading. This means that if you consistently have high blood pressure readings, then it may suggest that you have hypertension. However, you should not diagnose yourself as medical diagnosis should only be performed by medical professionals.
Blood pressure readings:
- Low blood pressure would be anywhere lower than 90/60mmHg.
- Normal blood pressure would be anywhere below 120/80mmHg and above 90/60mmHg.
- High blood pressure would be consistently exceeding 120/80mmHg.
What do the numbers mean?
Blood pressure readings use two numbers of measurements. These numbers are usually shown on top of each other with the top number being your Systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number being your Diastolic blood pressure.
- The systolic blood pressure represents the highest level of blood pressure that reaches your heart as it pumps.
- The diastolic blood pressure represents the lowest level of blood pressure that reaches your heart as it relaxes.
The unit of measurement for blood pressure is millimetres of mercury. (mmHg)
What are the risk factors for hypertension?
There are a variety of risk factors present when it comes to hypertension. Anyone could develop high blood pressure depending on their lifestyle, age, weight, and even family history.
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle is a very important risk factor which could contribute towards hypertension. If you eat an unhealthy diet, you are more likely to develop hypertension as you are not eating the right amount of nutrition and fat. Physical activity is also an important part of your lifestyle. If your lifestyle is lacking regular physical activity, then you could be at risk of raising your blood pressure.
Weight
The risk of high blood pressure increases when you are overweight. If you are overweight, then you may risk developing pre-hypertension or even fully developing hypertension. If you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, then it’s vital to lose the extra weight as it makes a huge difference when it comes to lowering your blood pressure.
Age
As you get older, the risk of hypertension increases. Although this is commonly found in those older than 60, children are also at risk of pre-hypertension due to the rise in overweight children.
Heredity
If you have a family history of high blood pressure, then it further increases the risk of developing pre-hypertension or even high blood pressure. Some may have a low tolerance for salt and sodium which then raises the risk of hypertension. This may run in the family as it is a genetic cause.
How can I reduce my blood pressure?
You can help regulate and manage your blood pressure with the right lifestyle, diet, and even medication. Here are a few tips which can help you reduce your blood pressure.
Healthy diet – Try to change your diet to incorporate more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat products. Changing your eating habits can be difficult, but keeping a food diary to see what you are eating can help you manage your food.
Regular exercise – Exercise is a very effective method of lowering your blood pressure as you can burn off any extra weight you might have. Adding regular exercise into your lifestyle can help you avoid developing pre-hypertension. If you have hypertension, then regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure to safer and healthier levels. Before you develop an exercise program, we highly recommend consulting your doctor for further advice.
High blood pressure medication – High blood pressure medication such as hypertension tablets can be effective for regulating and lowering your blood pressure. There are a variety of medications that your doctor may prescribe to you, depending on your blood pressure. They may even suggest a combination of medications for full effectiveness.
0 Comments