How To Treat High Or Low Blood Pressure

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

Particularly, there is no cause of high blood pressure. But, there are some factors which may affect or related to high blood pressure. Likewise, the symptoms of high blood pressure are hard to identify. This is really a silent disease and a silent killer.

These are some of the :

Family history- High blood pressure usually runs in the families. If family members have high blood pressure, the rest of the members might have high blood pressure also. Age factor- When a person gets older, the more he is at risk of high blood pressure. Alcohol consumption- Too much alcohol in the body can increase the rate of heart disease over the time. Anxiety- This can lift up the blood pressure. Potassium intake- There should be enough potassium intakes, not lower and not higher too. Because if potassium level is too low, there would be high sodium in the cells. Too much sodium- In can produce fluid preservation and high blood pressure. This is the reason why sodium and potassium work hand in hand. They balance one another. Cigarette smoking- People who smoke usually have heart disease. This is because the chemicals present in the tobacco damages the artery walls. Action- A person who lacks physical activities be likely to increase heart rate. It will push the heart to exert or function more with each contraction. Obesity- There would be more pressure on the artery walls if there is a greater body mass. The reason for this is because higher blood is created to provide oxygen and nutrients toward tissues in the body.

Those are some factors that . High blood pressure can also be caused by some health conditions fundamental in your history. These medical conditions are kidney disease, thyroid disease, adrenal gland disease, hormonal disorders and use of contraceptives and licorice. If you have these, your high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension. On the other hand, if the cause is unknown, it is called primary hypertension.

Usually, high blood pressure include to the workload of your heart and arteries. Because of this your heart should pump harder thus making the arteries to carry blood under a greater pressure. Your heart and arteries will stop working properly if high blood pressure persists for a long time. There would be an increase risk of stroke, kidney failure and heart attack. To those people who are obese, tobacco user, and those who have high blood cholesterol or high blood diabetes have higher risk of stroke.

Blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg is the ideal blood pressure but a level that is higher than this increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

How To Lower High Blood Pressure

Reduce Your Salt Intake

Sodium is the major cause of over half of diagnosed high blood pressure cases. Although our bodies do need some salt, we actually require only about 1/4 teaspoon of salt each day to maintain healthy nerve and muscle function. Try the following suggestions to help limit daily salt intake.

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Read Food Labels
Look for foods that say “very low sodium” These foods must contain no more than 35 mg of sodium per serving, while “low sodium” can contain up to 140 mg per serving. But keep in mind that serving sizes are sometimes smaller than we think, so a portion larger than what the label says also means more salt intake.
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Be Creative With Herbs and Spices
Use things such as lime juice, lemon juice, fresh and dried herbs for flavor instead os salt. Flavored oils and vinegars are also good alternatives.

Change Your Eating Habits

Because high blood cholesterol levels put you at higher risk for high blood pressure, it is important to maintain a low fat, high fiber diet. Choosing foods like whole grains, whole wheat pastas, vegetables and most fruits instead of red meats and dairy foods will help to keep your blood pressure levels lower. Other dietary considerations are added calcium and potassium. Studies show that hypertensive people who ate a diet rich in calcium and potassium maintained lower blood pressure levels, but their levels rose significantly when their diets were changed.

* Bananas, broccoli, tomatoes, orange juice and potatoes are all high in potassium. .
* Sardines, yogurt, cheese and low fat milk are all good choices for calcium

Learn To Relax

Anger and stress both play major parts in high blood pressure as well as heart disease. Streamlining your life a little can go a long way in maintaining a healthy blood pressure level.

* Do not take on more than you can handle. Feeling overwhelmed can leave you stressed. .
* Learn to meditate or join a yoga class. .
* Take some time each day and do something for yourself. Read, take a nap or a relaxing bath.

Lose Some Weight

Blood pressure drops considerably when excess weight is lost. Adopting a simple Exercise routine in addition to healthier eating habits could be all it takes to keeping high blood pressure under control without medication. Exercise does not have to be strenuous.

* Walk for 30 minutes a day 3-4 times a week. .
* Take the stairs instead of the elevator. .
* Join a fitness class. .
* Take up swimming. .
* Walk your dog.

Get Rid of Butts and Booze

Cigarettes and alcohol both raise blood pressure, and although a drink or two may actually lower blood pressure, excessive amounts can make it skyrocket. Smoking one cigarette can elevate blood pressure for up to an hour, so it stands to reason that a heavy smoker`s blood pressure is always higher. Smoking also raises LDL or bad cholesterol levels. When bad cholesterol levels build in the arteries it makes them more narrow, so if a clot builds in the artery it can easily result in a stroke or heart attack..

* Try to quit smoking, or at least cut back. .
* Limit your alcohol intake
* Remember that alcohol is also full of calories.