Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure. It’s also known as hypertension when your blood pressure becomes higher than normal. Now normally high blood pressure is normal. Then again it can change throughout your day. It’s constantly changing depending on your activities during the day. However, having high blood pressure consistently may result in a diagnosis of hypertension.
The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for additional health problems, such as heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
When it comes to high blood pressure, it usually develops over a period of time. It can happen because of a unhealthy lifestyle choice, for instance consuming too much processed food or lack of physical activity. Certain health conditions such as diabetes and being overweight can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. Sometimes during pregnancy also, there is a chance that you can have high blood pressure.
What problems come along with high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can damage your health in various ways. It can seriously impact your vital organs, such as your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. High blood pressure can cause a great deal of damage to your arteries by making them less elastic, which will decrease the flow of blood and oxygen towards your heart and result in heart disease. In relation, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Heart attacks – This happens when the blood flowing to your heart is blocked causing the muscle to starve of oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked in the arteries the greater damage it is causing to the heart.
- Heart failure- This is a result of your heart not being able to pump enough blood and oxygen to your other organs.
There are various health problems (hypertension) can cause to our bodies. However, worst case scenario high blood pressure can cause stroke and brain problems if the condition goes untreated. For instance, high blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply the blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, therefore causing a stroke. This results in our brain cells the die during a stroke due to lack of oxygen. A stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you.
Around 38% of strokes happen to middle aged people. This can be linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life.
What can be done to manage your high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (Hypertension) is a very common health issue within the UK. If you have recently been diagnosed or have suspicions you have hypertension, then your GP will advice you on a treatment plan. This will vary depending on the factors associated with yourself.
The good news is that in many cases of hypertension, lifestyle changes can be a powerful tool for managing, or even reversing hypertension. These changes include incorporating more nutritious fruits and vegetables into your diet, getting more physical activity and more importantly limiting your sodium intake, and limiting your alcohol consumption.
For more information, get in touch with us today and we will be able to help you.
