Nowadays, everyone is aware of high blood pressure, also known as Hypertension, the most common and severe medical condition affecting a huge population all around the globe. Do you know, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO) report, approximately 1.13 billion people have Hypertension or high blood pressure? Of 1.13 billion people, two-third belong to low and middle-income countries. We will discuss about high blood pressure, its causes and symptoms, some facts about Hypertension and some of the home remedies for high blood pressure in this article.
What is high blood pressure?
First, you must know about blood pressure. Blood pressure refers to blood circulation against the walls of blood vessels. Hypertension or High blood pressure is a situation in which blood pressure rises in the arteries.
When high blood pressure is for a long-term, it can increase the risks of stroke, heart failure, vision loss and kidney disease.
High blood pressure generally is of two types, primary Hypertension and Secondary Hypertension. 90-95 per cent of cases belong to primary Hypertension mainly due to lifestyle factors like too much salt, alcohol, smoking, excess body weight. The remaining belong to secondary Hypertension, which is due to endocrine disorders, kidney disease, oral contraceptives.
Normal blood pressure
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or less than this. The first number, 120, is systolic blood pressure, and the second number, 80, is diastolic blood pressure.
- Systolic blood pressure: The force applied by the heart on walls of arteries when it beats.
- Diastolic blood pressure: The force applied by the heart on the walls of arteries when it rests.
Following are the different ranges of blood pressure:
- Normal blood pressure: 120/80 or less
- High blood pressure: 120-129/>80
- Hypertension stage 1: 130-139/80-89
- Hypertension stage 2: 140 or above/90 or above
- High risk : >180/>120 – It is advised to see a doctor in this case, and if not treated, it can lead to a stroke and heart failure.
What causes Hypertension?
There are no exact causes of Hypertension, but some things may lead to this such as-
- Smoking
- Consuming alcohol
- Excess salt in the diet
- Stress
- Excess body weight
- Lack of exercise
- Genetic features
- Chronic kidney disease
- Endocrine disorders
- Oral Contraceptives
Symptoms of high blood pressure
If you have a high blood pressure, these may be the symptoms listed below:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nose bleeding
- Irregular heartbeat
- Problem in vision
- Headache
- Pain in chest
- Blood in urine
Sometimes, there are other symptoms also like:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Sleeping troubles and nightmares
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Facts related to high blood pressure
Did you ever notice, the first thing a doctor does when you have an appointment is to check your blood pressure? About 20% of the people with high blood pressure are not aware as they have no symptoms.
Here are some surprising facts about high blood pressure that you must know:
- High blood pressure may be symptomless
There are no symptoms most of the time, and people are not aware that they are at a risk of high blood pressure, which can cause a severe problem. So, it is advised to get your blood pressure checked at regular intervals.
- African Americans with higher rates of blood pressure
African Americans are likely to have higher blood pressure rates. It may be due to the genetic features of their descendants.
- Pregnant women with high blood pressure
Women who get pregnant with high blood pressure may face pregnancy complications like harming the kidney and other organs resulting in a premature baby birth. Therefore, women should have a normal blood pressure before getting pregnant.
- One in four adults with high blood pressure
Young people also have high blood pressure, which could lead to a stroke in most cases. One in every four adults is at risk of this medical condition.
- Caffeine causes a spike in blood pressure.
Taking excess caffeine can increase the risk of high blood pressure. According to a report, young people consume a lot of caffeine, affecting health, resulting in irregular heartbeats and chest pain, causing high blood pressure.
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Home remedies for high blood pressure
High blood pressure is easily cured at home unless a person is at higher risk. Below are some home remedies for high blood pressure:
- Reduce your body weight
An increase in weight can also increase blood pressure. You may also feel breathing difficulties while sleeping if you are obese. Losing weight can help lower your blood pressure.
- Regular exercise can help you.
By doing regular physical activity like walking, cycling, jogging or dancing, your blood pressure can be lowered by 5 to 8 mm Hg.
- Nutrient-rich diet
Eating a nutrient-rich diet can help bring your blood pressure down. A healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid junk food as it will increase your cholesterol resulting in high blood pressure.
- Avoid excess salt
You should reduce the amount of salt in your diet. According to American Heart Association (AHA), a person with a normal blood pressure should consume no more than 2300 mg( 1 teaspoon) of salt compared to a person with high blood pressure who should consume no more than 1500 mg of salt.
- Limit the consumption of alcohol
It would be best if you do not drink more than a moderate amount of drink. One drink for women and two for men in a day are sufficient and are considered to be mild drinks.
- Don’t overstress
If you take too much stress, it could increase the high risk of high blood pressure. Meditation and yoga could help you to reduce your stress.
If these home remedies are less to cure your high blood pressure, you may prescribe a doctor.
Summary
Though high blood pressure is a serious medical condition, it is treatable. Good sleep, meditation, physical activity and a nutrient-rich diet can help reduce serious health problems.
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