Hypertension: A Silent Killer

Hypertension is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against artery walls eventually leads to healthy ailments, such as heart problems. The normal blood pressure ranges between 120/70 and 140/90 mm of Hg depending upon the age of a person. Reading above 140/90mm of Hg will be labeled as Hypertension. 

High blood pressure has bad effects on various vital organs of body like heart, kidneys eyes and brain. Generally person doesn't feel any disturbing health problem due to raised blood pressure until he/she gets a major health issue like paralytic attack because of brain hemorrhage and therefore it is known as Silent Killer. 

It’s important that you have your blood pressure checked regularly by your healthcare provider.  Hypertension is one of the most common lifestyle diseases today, with every third person we meet, having suffered from it.

There are two types of high blood pressure- Primary Hypertension and Secondary Hypertension.

 Primary Hypertension develops gradually over many years and there is no defined cause of high blood pressure in this case. Most adults with sedentary lifestyle will have primary hypertension some day in lifetime.

 Secondary hypertension is the type of high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. People with kidney problems, fatty liver, thyroid problems, alcohol abuse, tumors or sleep apnea may develop secondary hypertension.

Symptoms of hypertension

Referred as 'THE SILENT KILLER' high blood pressure is asymptomatic as it can quietly cause damage to the cardiovascular system

Reasons of hypertension

High blood pressure has many risk factors, including:

 Aging :  As you age the risk of high blood pressure will increase. Men are likely to develop high blood pressure at the age of 45 while women may develop high blood pressure after the age of 65.

  Being  obese- . The more you weigh the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrient to your tissues. The more blood you need the more blood pressure on vessels will increase, putting pressure on artery walls.

 Not being physically active- Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.

Family history- High blood pressure tends to run in families.

Consuming tobacco- the chemicals in tobacco damages the lining of artery walls resulting in rise of blood pressure. The arteries are narrowed eventually increasing the blood pressure.

 Too much salt (sodium) in your diet. Too much sodium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure.

 Too little potassium in your diet. Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells. If you don't get enough potassium in your diet or retain enough potassium, you may accumulate too much sodium in your blood.

 Too little vitamin D in your diet Vitamin D may affect an enzyme produced by your kidneys that affects your blood pressure.

 Drinking too much alcohol.

Effects Of Hypertensin

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to:

 Heart attack/myocardial infarction or stroke.

 Aneurysm

 Heart failure

 Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in your kidneys.

 Thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes.

 Metabolic syndrome.

 Trouble with memory or understanding

How to keep hypertension away

 Eating a healthier diet with less salt

 Exercising regularly

 Quitting smoking

 Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink

 Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you're overweight or obese

 Consume a diet rich in fruit and vegetables (e.g. at least five portions per day);

Some Remedies for Hypertension

 Practice relaxation or slow, deep breathing

 Take your medications regularly.

 Sip Some Hibiscus:

Bring water to a boil and add the hibiscus and cinnamon sticks (if using them) and allow it to steep for 5 minutes. Add honey or lemon to taste, and drink 2-3 times daily. This also makes a lovely iced tea for those sticky hot summer days.

Drink Coconut Water: Drink 8 ounces 1-2 times daily. Morning is ideal if you drink it once a day, while morning and night works well if you opt to drink it twice a day.

Control blood pressure during pregnancy

 Adopt healthy habits.

Manage stress

These are just simple suggestions to lead a healthy lifestyle and keep your blood pressure under control. For proper treatment of  hypertension you should visit your physician or you can also connect with doctors online through LCMASS.

Hypertension is likely to end up being an epidemic in the near future, and approximately one-third of our population will suffer from it by 2020, so it is important that we get aware about the causes of this silent killer and include required changes in our lifestyle to keep hypertension at bay.