High Blood Pressure - Overview and Preventive Measures

Blood pressure control is one of the most important things to do to for you health. People who suffer from high blood pressure have no way to know that they have high blood pressure because it doesn't show any symptoms. As such, there are many people suffering from high blood pressure and are at risk of heart disease but don't even know it. So it's very important to get regular blood pressure tests done so that you know where you stand. Blood pressure can be controlled primarily through lifestyle changes and occasionally through medications.

High blood pressure often results in severe organ and cellular damage. It can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks and other cellular damage. This is the point when most people discover that they have high blood pressure. As is clear, it is important to keep tabs on your blood pressure because it can be fatal if not controlled.

Blood pressure is listed using two numbers, such as 120/80. The first one is called the systolic pressure - it refers to the blood pressure when your heart beats (and pumps the blood, so this is higher). The second one is called diastolic blood pressure and refers to the pressure when your heart is not beating. High blood pressure is recognized as pressure above 140 for systolic and above 90 for diastolic. Generally speaking, high diastolic blood pressure is more dangerous than high systolic blood pressure. This is because diastolic blood pressure is constant and can cause a lot more damage over time.

There are some major factors that can increase the risk of high blood pressure:

1. Excess Weight - Excess weight is easily on e of the biggest problem of most Americans. Being overweight affects blood pressure in two ways. First, if causes artery blockages which leads to increases in blood pressure (primarily systolic blood pressure). At the same time, the extra fat increases the pressure on the heart which increases the risk of high blood pressure related heart attacks. Losing weight is probably the single biggest change that Americans need to make. This is one of the biggest steps you can take towards lowering your blood pressure. Here's the best guide I know of to help you get rid of excess weight in a nutritious, natural and healthy manner.

   
   

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3. Start exercising - Exercise, other than just helping fight against excess fat, also helps reduce the resting heart rate, and as such will lower your blood pressure. It also causes the cells to release many chemicals that naturally reduce the blood pressure. Here is a great program to help you get your exercise requirements squared away.

   
   

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5. Lower your alcohol consumption - In large quantities, alcohol can reduce the flow of blood from heart to other parts of the body. This is a dangerous condition, and will also result in high blood pressure.

   
   

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7. Quit Smoking - There is really no end to the list of problems that smoking causes. Other than just eating at your money, giving you bad breath, yellowing your teeth, and giving you cancer, smoking also raises your blood pressure by constricting the blood cells. The best program to get rid of smoking that I know of is available here.

   
   

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9. Cut out excess sodium - Salt results in change of osmolytic balance which causes cells to retain more water. This can cause high blood pressure, but is more dangerous if you already have high blood pressure.

   
   

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Generally, following the above guidelines and making the necessary changes will result in the desired change. High blood pressure is more a lifestyle condition than anything else. While there are medications available, there is medication available, much of it has severe side effects, and is nearly useless without the above changes in lifestyle. And also continue checking your blood pressure regularly (there are free tests at many Walmart super stores today).