Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is considered a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. In most cases, there is no cure for high blood pressure. Medication can help you controlling your blood pressure, but you are generally on medication for the rest of your life. And very often, you will need more and more medication. A better solution is to change your life style.
Two forms of high blood pressure have been defined, essential (or primary) and secondary. Essential hypertension is a far more common condition and accounts for 95% of all cases. The cause of essential hypertension is unknown but often believed to be multi-factorial, that is, it is caused by a combination of several factors. Secondary hypertension is caused by an identifiable underlying secondary cause, for example kidney diseases.
The best way to maintain healthy blood pressure is always through a healthy lifestyle. For most people, a number of changes are required. Try to do just one change at a time, trying to change everything at once seldom works.
Lack of physical activity is a problem for many. The good news is that in order to get your blood pressure down, you do not need to go to gym on a daily basis. For most people, walking, cycling, dancing or swimming is good enough. But it needs to be done at least three times per week. Just 30 minutes a day is enough, it is more important to do your exercises frequently.
A healthier diet is very important. By eating more fruit and vegetables combined with less processed food, you are well on your way to a healthier diet. Also, eat more fish and less red meat. Cut down on salt and sodium, prepared food often contains a lot of salt or sodium.
Be careful with alcohol, drinking too much alcohol will increase your blood pressure over time. You should also be careful with caffeine, for example coffee and coca-cola, it will temporarily increase your blood pressure, and you don’t need any temporary boost. Interestingly enough, in small quantities, red wine can prevent heart diseases. So you can drink up to one glass of red wine per day, and it may improve your health.
Stress is a very common problem today. It is one of main suspected causes of hypertension. By doing relaxation exercises or meditation on a daily basis, stress can be reduced. It can be as easy as a slow breathing exercise or just an imagined holiday on a tropical beach, but it has to be done every day.