Everything you need to know about hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and sometimes death.
Hypertension is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure,. Managing blood pressure is vital for preserving health and reducing the risk of these dangerous conditions.
Lifestyle adjustments are the standard, first-line treatment for hypertension. Some recommendations are as follows:
Regular physical exercise
Current guidelines recommend that all people, including those with hypertension, engage in at least 150 mins of moderate-intensity, aerobic exercise every week, or 75 minutes per week of high-intensity exercise.
Stress reduction
Avoiding or learning to manage stress can help a person control blood pressure.
A few relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress are:
- meditation
- warm baths
- yoga
- going on long walks
Diet
People can prevent high blood pressure by following a heart-healthy diet.
Reducing salt intake
High sodium consumption contributes to high blood pressure. The main source of sodium in the diet is salt.
Moderate to excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure.
Eating more fruits and vegetables and less fat
People who have high blood pressure or people at high risk for developing high blood pressure should reduce their intake of saturated fats in favor of unsaturated forms.
The DASH diet
DASH DIET is for people with high blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
DASH is a flexible and balanced eating plan which:
- lowers high blood pressure
- improves levels of fats in the bloodstream
- reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
