High blood pressure is not visible, and many people don’t even feel it. It’s important to know the effects of hypertension on your health, whether you are one of the 116 million Americans or have been diagnosed with prehypertension.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by your blood on the inner walls of arteries. Blood pressure fluctuates during the day. It drops when you are relaxed or asleep. It rises naturally in the morning and briefly increases when you are stressed, excited or exercising.
A high resting blood-pressure can damage, scar and stiffen blood vessels. This can increase the risk of dementia, kidney disease, vision loss and heart failure. High blood pressure may also cause bone weakness and an increased risk of erectile disorder in men.
What causes high blood pressure?
You may have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you smoke, are obese, consume a diet that is rich in salt and fat, and low in fruit and vegetables. If you drink excessive alcohol, suffer from chronic stress or do not engage in physical activity much, this could be affecting your health.
Certain factors, like your genes or race, cannot be controlled and can contribute to high blood tension. African Americans, for example, are at higher risk because of their race. The aging process also plays a role. Yourhealthy life style can protect you from the harmful effects of high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, these strategies can help lower your risk.
Loss of weight: Excess weight, particularly abdominal fat, may increase blood pressure through increased blood volume, and hormonal imbalance. Even a small weight loss can have a big impact.
Limit drinking: Moderation the key. A little alcohol can relax the arteries but too much will have the opposite effect.
Get Moving:Â Exercise helps keep arteries flexible, and it reduces the activity of the sympathetic nervous system that can cause blood vessels to tighten and blood pressure to rise.
Manage your blood pressure with minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium. On the other side, sodium found in processed foods can cause water retention and blood vessel constriction. Saturated fats can also increase blood pressure.
Relax Mind body therapies can reduce blood pressure and risk although stress temporarily raises blood tension. Stress-relieving techniques such as breathing exercises, progressive relaxation and fitness can help you to feel better. Meditation can also lower the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9636/#:~:text=Framingham%20Heart%20Study%20investigators%20recently,%E2%80%9385%20(figure%208).
https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4314-hypertension-high-blood-pressure
