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High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most common words we hear around our house and society on a daily basis. What is it, and why is it becoming a common phenomenon?
Well, when your heart continuously pumps blood through your arteries under excessive pressure, you develop high blood pressure, sometimes referred to as hypertension. Think of your arteries as garden hoses, which are worn down, cracked, and strained by continuous high pressure. Because of how silently and progressively this strain accumulates inside your body, hypertension is frequently referred to as the “silent killer.” Even though you feel fine, your organs might be getting attacked.
Systolic (pressure during a heartbeat) over diastolic (pressure between beats) are the two numbers that make up high blood pressure range readings, which are expressed in millimetres of mercury.
Although hypertension doesn’t necessarily indicate danger, its consequences might be fatal or drastically alter a person’s life that makes it important for you to know how to control high blood pressure:
Hypertension is one of the most common health diseases in India. Knowing how to reduce high blood pressure could help so many people act smartly and swiftly.
The WHO-backed India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) emphasizes early detection to avoid these long-term risks.
Many people experience no symptoms until they develop severe hypertension. Some potential high blood pressure symptoms are as follows:
However, these signs don’t show up until damage has begun. Consistent checks on high blood pressure symptoms are important because they may identify problems before you do.
There is no simple answer to it yet. Multiple factors affect the cause. Here’s the detailed explanation of it all.
Primary Hypertension: This is the most prevalent kind and grows gradually over the years, motivated by:
Secondary Hypertension: It is caused by root causes such as:
Talking to a professional would help you know the right treatments and the best medicine for high blood pressure.
Although high blood pressure doesn’t choose who to hit, there are some things that can make it far more likely for you to get it. Age is a major factor; beyond the age of 55, your risk increases considerably. Having a parent with hypertension almost doubles your odds of developing high blood pressure yourself if it runs in your family.
Additionally, carrying excess weight might increase the strain on your heart and blood vessels over time. Sedentary lifestyles, which involve excessive sitting and little movement, can damage the heart and restrict or stiffen arteries. Another important factor is diet; eating too much processed food, saturated fat, and salt can raise blood pressure. The fire is only fueled by bad habits like smoking and binge drinking.
Hypertension is also closely associated with chronic illnesses like diabetes, renal disease, and sleep apnea. The first step to safeguarding your health is understanding your risk and then looking for effective high blood pressure remedies.
Want to get your risk assessed? Book a hypertension consultation at Jain Hospital.
Now that we know what it is and how harsh it can be on your body, you need to understand the importance of getting it diagnosed and treated on time. Here is the right pattern of getting diagnosed and treated.
To determine the cause or extent of organ damage, testing methods may include blood, urine, ECG, or ultrasound.
There isn’t a single, universally applicable treatment for high blood pressure. As it turns out, there are various forms of hypertension, and knowing which one you have can be crucial to properly controlling it.
Have you ever experienced a sudden jump in blood pressure when feeling anxious at the doctor’s office? White-coat hypertension is what that is. At home, your blood pressure is normal, but when you attend the clinic, it spikes, probably because you’re stressed or anxious. White-coat hypertension can be a warning sign, even if it may appear to be benign. Home monitoring becomes crucial since it can point to a propensity for long-term, persistently high blood pressure.
In contrast, you can seem fine at the doctor’s office, but once you’re back in your normal surroundings, your blood pressure starts to rise. Masked hypertension is cunning, and it can be caused by a bad diet, lifestyle choices, or stress at work. Despite carrying the same cardiovascular risks as chronic hypertension, it frequently goes undiagnosed. This is why 24-hour monitoring or house inspections can reveal things that the doctor’s cuff might overlook.
This is the more common kind, where your blood pressure is constantly elevated at home and in medical settings. It actually indicates that your body is experiencing persistent stress. To avoid long-term cardiac damage, this type requires aggressive, continuous treatment that includes lifestyle modifications and, frequently, medication.
A lesser-known one is elevated blood pressure during sleep. At night, your body, especially your blood pressure, is meant to relax and reset. However, some people’s blood pressure remains elevated or even increases, particularly those who have diabetes, kidney illness, or sleep apnea. This raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes and silently strains the cardiovascular system. The most effective method of identifying this concealed danger is by overnight blood pressure monitoring.
Learn more about 24-hour monitoring options through validated research.
Prescription pads aren’t always the first step in managing high blood pressure. Actually, altering daily routines is often the first line of defense for many people. The good news? Over time, minor adjustments made consistently might have significant outcomes. Here are the most effective high blood pressure treatments at home.
Using the DASH Diet to Eat Healthily: One of the most advised diets and foods for high blood pressure is the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. It emphasizes nutrient-dense foods that are low in saturated fats and salt.
Recommended by the American Heart Association, it includes:
Without taking medication, following this type of diet can help lower your systolic blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg.
Sit Less, Move More: Frequent exercise makes your heart stronger, allowing it to pump blood more efficiently. Your arteries will be under less pressure as a result.
As per research published in Clinical Hypertension, exercise can lower BP by 5–8 mm Hg:
Your systolic blood pressure can drop by 5 to 8 mm Hg with exercise. Additionally, it lowers stress, enhances sleep, and aids with weight management, all of which are critical for heart health.
Reach a Healthy Weight and Keep It: Losing a few pounds alone might have a significant impact. Your blood pressure may decrease by about 1 mm Hg for every kilogram (2.2 lbs) of weight you lose.
Reducing weight is just a way to live healthily and not just to transform your physical appearance. A good and healthy body equals a healthy mind.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption and Quit Smoking: Tobacco and alcohol use are major causes of elevated blood pressure.
While we do not suggest or promote smoking or drinking, however, in any of the cases, moderation can be your friend as WHO recommends moderation..
Control your stress before it controls you: The quiet saboteur is stress. In simple words, it might increase blood pressure, and in the long term, it can cause harmful coping mechanisms.
Adequate rest acts as a fuel for your body that keeps it working. We need to understand that the journey is long, and keeping our bodies recharged is the best we can do.
Keep an Eye on Your Home Numbers: When it comes to treating hypertension, information truly is power.
Being mindful of what triggers and when can help your medical examiner see things that are concealed from them. It will ultimately help your case and improve your condition.
If altering one’s lifestyle doesn’t lower blood pressure, you should seek professional help. If you are an expecting mother, the professionals would help you understand better how to prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy. Doctors could recommend:
Medication schedules are customized for you and can be changed as necessary; never change dosages without first talking to your doctor.
You may manage your hypertension and lead a long, satisfying life with medicine and a healthy lifestyle. However, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other conditions can result from uncontrolled high blood pressure.
These tactics are effective even if your numbers are average:
Yes, there are scattered appropriate ages and times that affect when you should get professional assistance.
Your healthcare expert will help you throughout your journey. You just need to hire the best ones near you. Jain Multispeciality Hospital is one of the finest picks you can go for if you wish to connect to qualified healthcare professionals for your high blood pressure diagnosis and treatment.
Although prevalent, high blood pressure can be controlled without the need for lifelong medication. The sooner you take action, the better the result will be. Healthy eating, exercise, stress reduction, supervision, and medical advice are all little, gradual actions that add up to a significant influence. Because a healthy you means a prosperous future for everyone you care about, your heart is worth every effort.
