The Silent Killer ? Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a very common ailment in today’s society. Many people have it without even knowing it, hence the name “Silent Killer”. Hypertension can be a very serious condition if ignored or left untreated.
Some symptoms of hypertension include irregular heartbeats, blood in the urine, a pounding in the ears, chest or neck, headaches, fatigue, vision problems and chest pain; though a lot of the time a person may have it and not experience any symptoms at all. In fact about a third of people suffering from hypertension aren’t even aware of their condition.
Many factors can contribute to developing hypertension such as family history, obesity, stress, age, alcohol and tobacco use among others. What you eat also plays an important factor and if you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension salt is something you must reduce. Salt can greatly aggravate hypertension and should be reduced or even eliminated if possible. A healthy diet including fruits and vegetables can help.
Exercise is one of the best ways of reducing high blood pressure, and can also aid in weight loss, one of the causes of hypertension. Exercise not only helps it, but it is a great way to release stress, which also benefits your blood pressure. Once you’ve been diagnosed as having hypertension it is vital to monitor your blood pressure regularly and be aware of what you eat.
High blood pressure can lead to very serious diseases such as heart disease, elevated risk of stroke, kidney damage, and recent research has even shown a link between hypertension and dementia. Studies have shown that hypertension not only damages cardiovascular function, it also increases the chances of cerebrovascular disease (disease of blood vessels that supply the brain with blood).
A person can learn to live with hypertension but regular checkups must be performed to monitor the situation. A change in lifestyle must be considered and stress must be avoided whenever possible. Some kits can be found to monitor blood pressure at home but periodic visits to the doctor are required.
In more severe cases of hypertension, medication may be prescribed by the doctor to manage blood pressure. Hypertension is not necessarily a death sentence, but if you’re diagnosed as having high blood pressure, neglecting to address the problem can lead to life-threatening diseases and possibly death.
