High blood
pressure is often called the “silent killer” because most people don’t even
know they have it and they can die without warning. This is as serious of a
health concern as you can possibly have.
High blood
pressure is the No. 1 modifiable risk factor for stroke. It also contributes to
heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure and atherosclerosis (fatty
buildups in arteries). In some cases, it can cause blindness.
Often times (not
always) when someone had high cholesterol, they had high blood pressure too.
This is usually because the same lifestyle habits lead to both
ailments…according to the renowned and respected American Heart Association.
Knowing the risk
factors for high blood pressure, or hypertension, is the first step toward
making sure your blood pressure is at a healthy level. There are several risk
factors for hypertension. Some are within your control and others are simply a
matter of genetics.
It does not
matter what is causing or may cause you to have high blood pressure. The
important point is that if you know you are at risk you can take steps to
reduce the risk and keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
We have no
control over our genes, our race or our age. These are three risk factors for
some people in developing high blood pressure. African Americans are more
likely to develop high blood pressure than whites. They also seem to develop it
at a younger age and have higher levels.
Age is a factor
in blood pressure as well. The older you get, the more likely you are to have
higher blood pressure. Women usually don't have trouble with hypertension until
after menopause, unless they have a parent or other close relative with it. Men
will develop hypertension as they age, with the greatest increases beginning
between the ages of 35 and 55.
While race, age
and genes are not something you can control there are several risk factors for
hypertension which you can control.
The most important is weight.
Obesity leads
to higher blood pressure especially in people with a body mass index over 30.0.
Contributing to obesity and high blood pressure is also a lack of exercise. If
you are inactive, you are more likely to be overweight and therefore develop
hypertension.
Our eating and
drinking habits greatly impact blood pressure. Consuming too much alcohol or
salt on a regular basis also increases blood pressure. Not only overeating, but
what you eat will affect blood pressure in a good or bad way.
How much stress
you have and how you deal with it can influence blood pressure negatively. It
is difficult to know how much stress a person is under, since many people hold
it in and may not even feel overly stressed when in reality they are.
When
there is too much stress, other good habits are often sacrificed to deal with the current
situation.
For example, during a stressful period you may not get enough sleep or exercise or may substitute good home cooked meals for high sodium fast foods.
Any one of these
risk factors alone can put blood pressure levels within a dangerous range. When
you couple the risk factors with one another, your problem grows exponentially.
This means that if you are overweight, inactive and have a family history of
hypertension, you are at a much higher risk than someone with only heredity
working against them.
It would be wise for anyone with the non-controllable
risk factors of race, heredity, or age to keep stay physically active, maintain
a healthy weight and reduce the amount of alcohol and sodium they consume.
It
is also important to eat a proper diet that will support a healthy blood
pressure. Specific nutrients help reduce blood pressure even in those who are
genetically predisposed to hypertension.
Learn how to
reduce the risk factors for developing high blood pressure and keep your bloodpressure at a healthy level.
Frank Mangano is
an active member of his community
who works
diligently providing assistance to senior citizens
and probing as a
health advocate to discover new and innovative
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