High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects nearly 65 million Americans. Some factors, like genetics (men are more likely to have high blood pressure than women), race (African Americans are at an increased risk for high blood pressure), and genetics cannot be changed. However, the lifestyle a person leads also contributes to the likelihood of a person developing high blood pressure
What Is High Blood Pressure?
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, has a very negative effect on the heart. It causes the arteries to narrow, making the heart work harder in order to pump blood through the arteries. The increased strain on the heart wears it down sooner than normal and contributes to coronary heart disease, in which plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries, causing them to narrow. Once the arteries are narrowed, the flow of blood to the heart decreases and encourages the formation of clots within the arteries. These clots block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When the heart is not receiving enough oxygen, a heart attack can occur.
A normal reading for an adult is less than 120 (systolic) / 80 (diastolic). An individual is considered to have high blood pressure when his reading is 140/90 or above. Anything over 120/80 and under 140/90 puts a person in a pre-hypertension, or risk, category.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Lifestyle greatly affects a person’s chances of developing high blood pressure. The following are some lifestyle habits that can be alterable in order to decrease the likelihood of heart disease:
Diet. A diet that is high in fat and cholesterol can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, two large factors in the development of heart disease. Eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, protein, and whole grains can reduce the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. Avoiding a diet that consists of a great deal of red meat and foods high in trans fat will also reduce a person’s risk.
Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to weight gain and obesity, a contributing factor in the onset of high blood pressure. Excess weight causes the heart to constantly work harder than normal to pump blood throughout the body. Regular exercise can not only help maintain a healthy weight, but also curb the onslaught of high blood pressure and other factors that lead to heart disease.
Smoking. The link between smoking and high blood pressure has been shown to increase a smoker’s chance of developing hypertension by more than four times that of a nonsmoker. Chemicals in nicotine also reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood, thereby reducing oxygen needed by the heart.
Alcohol consumption. A high level of alcohol consumption has been linked to high blood pressure. Aim for no more than two drinks a day as an absolute maximum.
Stress. Stress factors, such as job issues, family problems, and money woes are common stressors people face on a daily basis. However, too much stress has been linked to heart disease. It can lead to a higher blood pressure, chest pains, and heart attack. In addition, many people turn to unhealthy measures that can lead to heart disease in order to deal with stress. This can include eating for comfort, which leads to weight gain, smoking, or too much drinking, all lifestyle factors that can lead to heart disease.
While some factors that contribute to hypertension cannot be changed, modifying your lifestyle where necessary is the most influential thing that can be done to help prevent and control high blood pressure.