What is High Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is defined simply as the force of blood exerting pressure against the walls of a blood vessel as it pumps blood through the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is an illness where blood flows at a greater than normal rate through various blood vessels (or arteries). These arteries are surrounded by a sheath that has been formed from the skin. This helps to cushion the vessel walls from excessive pressure.
The main risk factors for developing hypertension include being over fifty years of age, having poor eating and drinking habits, and having a family history of cardiovascular problems. However, other risk factors are usually obesity, recreational drug use, tobacco use, and diabetes. Being sedentary, a smoker, and having a family history of heart disease are also risk factors for hypertension.
There are many ways to treat high blood pressure, both medical and natural. These may include changing your lifestyle to help lower blood pressure, taking medication to help lower blood pressure, or undergoing exercise and diet changes to help lower blood pressure. Lifestyle changes include losing weight if you are overweight, quitting smoking, avoiding stimulants like coffee and tobacco, eating a healthy diet, and increasing your physical activity. Medication can be taken to help lower blood pressure, or lifestyle changes alone can be tried without medication. You can ask your doctor what medications are available for you and how they work.
Exercise and diet changes are the most important treatment options for hypertension. Exercise lowers blood pressure naturally and often without the use of prescription medications. This reduces the stress on your heart and muscles that can cause hypertension. Some lifestyle changes that can help are to lose weight, quit smoking, avoid alcoholic beverages, and get routine checkups from your doctor. Lifestyle changes are especially important because these conditions can be symptoms of other health problems. It is important to seek medical care immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
The third type of treatment for high blood pressure is surgery. Surgery to lower your pressure includes placing a stent in your arteries to bring the pressure down. However, surgery should only be considered as a last resort after all other methods have been tried and failed. Surgery will cause internal bleeding and may cause permanent damage to your heart or kidneys. For this reason, this type of treatment should only be done after all other treatment methods have been tried and failed.
Many people with high blood pressure are unaware that they have an underlying medical condition. Fortunately, most people who have hypertension can control it with lifestyle changes and medications. If you are at high risk for this condition, you should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options. You should also do your part to stay healthy by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and minimizing your stress level. By making these lifestyle changes, you can improve your overall health and lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease and its complications. You can reduce your risks of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease with a simple lifestyle change at home.