I was diagnosed with hypertension while still in college. I was considered very young to be diagnosed with this kind of chronic disease. The main symptom was a constant headache at the back of my head that stayed for prolonged periods. Symptoms, however, differ from person to person and may include – light-headedness, sensation of losing balance, buzzing in the ear, blurred vision etc.
These nagging headaches went on for some time, until finally I’d had enough. After an entire process of testing, I was diagnosed with hypertension (possibly through heredity) and given hypertension medication. For the next few years, I was probably the only college student in Korea taking this type of medication. But eventually I lost weight and got my blood pressure under control.
Now, some ten years later, I’m still monitoring my blood pressure. And I felt compelled to write, Hypertension Causes and Cures, as a reference for people of all ages. And I highly recommend proper diagnoses by professional physician, if any of the following happens to you.
Hypertension Causes and Cures:
Hypertension is basically ongoing high blood pressure. Where the pressure of your blood is raised to a level deemed higher than normal.
Usually the normal blood pressure for a healthy person is 120mmHg systolic (when the heart is contracting) and 80mmHg for diastolic (when the heart is relaxed between beats). A person is diagnosed with high blood pressure if the blood pressure is persistently at or above 140/90 mmHg.
Why Should I Care?
When the blood pressure is high, it requires the heart to work harder than normal to pump blood throughout the network of blood vessels. Strange as it may seem, I’ve met several people with high blood pressure who don’t really seem to care. Yet, if left unchecked, Hypertension can eventually lead to stroke, heart failure, chronic kidney diseases and other problems if proper measures are not taken.
How Do I Get It?
I’m not a geneticist, nor here to discuss this in a scientific way. However, here’s some common reasons for hypertension.
- One of the most common sayings is that hypertension is genetic: For instance – My dad has hypertension, so I have it too. This may seem logical, but not necessarily sound. Although research indicates some genetic disposition can lead to high blood pressure.
- Life style choices: For example, anyone who is overweight, leads a sedentary life, refuses to exercise and is constantly under stress for a long period can be at a higher risk of getting hypertension.
- Foods high in fat and salt: Areas like salt intake or reduction have been studied extensively and browsing the journals and scientific studies doesn’t always lead to a clear conclusion. Especially since a person’s diet is not a solitary event but can revolve around many aspects of a person’s life. However, studies and evidence consistently shows that an excessive intake of fatty and salty foods can be a leading cause of hypertension. Besides a reduction of saturated fats and salts in our diet probably wouldn’t hurt.
Do I Have It?
Like my experience, dealing with this through trial and error is never a good idea. Especially since the symptoms are not always clear-cut. Besides, It’s easy to get a simple screening through a series of simple tests, blood screening and chest X-rays to eliminate other causes for your symptoms. To decide if your problem is really hypertension your blood pressure will be monitored for a couple of weeks along with other simple physical and medical tests.
People spend their health to build wealth, and then spend their wealth to regain their health.
Hypertension Causes and Cures: Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Hypertension, dangerous as it sounds, is something that can be prevented most of the time. Below are some tips that might sound like common sense, but many still chose to ignore. But, by following these tips, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting this disease. Why wait for the cure when you can prevent it in the first place, right?
Stay In shape
Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t as easy as it looks, especially in this fast-paced society. But to avoid many chronic diseases, one must exercise regularly, and keep up a normal body weight. Some still seem to think that exercise is for ‘fat’ people or gym rats. So why exercise if we are thin and have no health problems? Well the answer is exercise, of any kind, keeps our bodies and minds healthy by improving blood circulation, increasing metabolism, reducing stress and even lifting our moods. And all at the same time!
Eat the right stuff
Second to none, is maintaining a healthy diet. Reduce the intake of meat while consuming important fresh fruits, veggies and legumes will give the important vitamins and minerals needed to keep the body healthy. Most experts agree that around a minimum of five portions of fresh fruits and vegetables per day will help provide proper nutrition.
Limit salty foods
People are accustomed to having salty foods, and most of the time ignore of how much salt is contained in the food we eat. Salt, or dietary sodium, brings out the flavor in food. But increased intake of salt may result in increased blood pressure over time. It is advisable to cut salt intake to help reduce (but not end) the chances of getting hypertension. Also, salt content is especially high in processed foods, so be aware, read the labels and try to reduce the consumption of processed foods.
Stay far away from stress
Avoid being under stress. Studies show that stress is one of the main causes for hypertension. Whether it’s from your work, family, or from your surroundings, stress has a significant amount of impact on our bodies. So be sure to deal with stress promptly because stress adds up quickly without us knowing.
Say no to unhealthy habits
If you are a smoker, please stop smoking. Cigarettes bring nothing but harm to your body, and to your loved ones around you. And for all the drinkers out there, limit your alcohol consumption to no more than 3 units per day for men, and 2 units for women, but even this amount can have negative effects on not just your body, but on life in general.
Sleeping is a great pastime
Just like our moms used to tell us, get ample rest every day. It’s no mystery why sleep deprivation is one of the most common forms of torture!
Hypertension Causes and Cures: Dealing With High Blood Pressure
If you are one of the millions who are diagnosed with hypertension, don’t be too alarmed. Here are some helpful tips to aid you in managing your blood pressure.
Rule of thumb
If you are under medication instructed by your physician, never stop your medication on your own. One shouldn’t stop the medication without the doctor’s supervision. It could lead to further complications especially for the elderly. High blood pressure can easily lead to stroke if not taken care of. So please remember to take your medication as ordered.
The next step is changing your lifestyle
The changes are the same as the prevention method mentioned above. This includes dietary changes, physical exercise, and weight loss. These are proven to significantly reduce blood pressure if done properly together with medication.
Monitor your pressure from time to time
This can be done by walking into your local clinic, pharmacy or drugstore and get a reading. Or you can buy the blood pressure monitoring device for personal use. I own one of them and it ‘s very convenient since the best time to measure your blood pressure is in the morning and in the evening. It is recommended that you monitor and record your blood pressure on a regular basis to make sure it’s normal. If any abnormalities are discovered, do consult your doctor immediately.
Health Is EVERYTHING
Many people are affected but still unaware of this dangerous chronic disease that causes countless deaths every year. And it is clear to say that hypertension has something to do with our habits. So, stop making lame excuses to avoid staying healthy. Everyone has a busy lifestyle. It’s up to us to make the effort to be healthy. No one will do it for us.