High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a chronic condition that leads to gradual health damage. It is also termed a “silent killer” because the individual might not even be aware that they are suffering due to this underlying health condition. Which gives rise to other health complications. There are no specific symptoms of high blood pressure, which can indicate the person is having this disease.
The blood flows through the vascular passages under high pressure. It potentiates the risk of heart attack and stroke among such individuals. Which can be life-threatening. The uncontrolled flow of blood exerts tremendous pressure on the delicate walls of the blood vessels, which leads to damage to the vascular system. Some potential factors responsible for leading to high blood pressure are listed below:
Excessive intake of sodium
Sodium is indeed an essential mineral that is required by the body in healthy amounts. However, the problem arises when it is present in surplus amounts in the body. Most of the sodium content is found in salt. Which you consume regularly. Moreover, Salt increases the levels of water in the bloodstream. Having excessive amounts of salt in the body will cause too much increase of water in the bloodstream.
The rise in the levels of water in the body will increase the volume of blood. This will lead to the expansion and stretching of the blood vessels. Which can injure their linings. Your heart will have to work extremely hard to pump blood throughout the body.
It is necessary to limit your sodium intake, you can do this by keeping some things in mind that are listed below:
- Prefer home-cooked meals and avoid eating out.
- Abstain from junk and processed meals, which are usually high in sodium.
- Use more herbs and spices instead of salt.
Lack of physical activity and exercise
Moreover, Physical inactivity potentiates the risk of high blood pressure. When you perform regular physical activity. It improves your heart health and hence allows it to efficiently pumps blood to all parts of your body. Optimal heart health eases the process of pumping blood and as a result, the pressure on the arteries reduces.
One can prevent high blood pressure with regular exercise. Aerobic exercises are incredibly beneficial in increasing your heart rate and raising the levels of oxygen in your blood. Performing 30 minutes of aerobic exercise regularly will eliminate blood pressure problems and increase the endurance of your heart. Within 30 minutes of exercise, you can do walking, brisk walking, jogging, running, dancing, bicycling, swimming, or playing any active sport like badminton, tennis, or basketball.
Obesity or overweight
Individuals who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure either too early or at some point for sure. When the individual puts on weight, their blood pressure naturally increases due to the deposition of fat around the body. Such individuals also have high cholesterol, which can worsen their condition even more.
Excessive weight gain can cause a dramatic increase in health conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and several others. It is necessary to maintain your weight in a healthy range, to eliminate the risk of such life-threatening health problems. Obesity deteriorates the quality of life. This is why it is necessary to prevent weight gain which can be achieved with a proper diet and regular exercise.
Stressing too much
In general, Stress can make your body release hormones that lead to the constriction of the blood vessels. The hormones can make your heart beat faster. You may not remain stressed all the time. But if you do, it can increase your risk of developing chronic high blood pressure. You can reduce your risk of developing hypertension by managing your stress.
Stress can be managed through regular exercise, meditation, yoga, and taking enough rest. Performing these exercises regularly will help your mind to become calm and attain peace and increase relaxation in the body. Due to complete relaxation, the blood pressure drops down and comes into the normal range.
Familial history of hypertension
In case blood pressure disorder runs in the family. Your chances of experiencing it are quite high. It can occur due to shared genes, environments, and lifestyle habits. Unhealthy habits and choices make the individual with a family history of hypertension more susceptible to blood pressure problems.
It is necessary to get a routine physical examination done. Which will help you to learn whether your blood pressure is abnormal. This will prevent the risk of health complications happening due to high blood pressure. So, you must get regular blood pressure screenings to eliminate the health risk.
Smoking habits
In general, Chronic smokers are at a greater risk of blood pressure disorders. It can cause an acute rise in blood pressure and heart rate. Also, the hazardous chemicals found in cigarette smoke cause the blood to become thick and lead to clot formation in the vascular passages. These clots get accumulated in the blood vessels and block the flow of blood. This clogging and narrowing of the blood vessels make the heart pump blood with tremendous pressure. Which can lead to heart damage.
Consuming caffeinated drinks excessively
Caffeine is a substance that can cause vasoconstriction by inhibiting a hormone that is responsible for keeping the blood vessels expanded. It can cause a rise in blood pressure for some time. Therefore, one must limit their caffeine intake.