How to Prevent High Blood Pressure

How Stress, Poor Diet, and Lack of Exercise can lead to Hypertension

Aug 18, 2008

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is a disease that affects 1 in 5 adults over the age of 65.

One in two people that is overweight has 6 times greater risk of developing hypertension than lean people. Overall obesity is considered to be the number one life style factor related to hypertension. High Blood Pressure in itself can have few to no symptoms; however it can lead to serious health problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure.

Excess alcohol intake is responsible for at least 10% of all cases, which, added to smoking, that makes this disease very likely. High Blood pressure accelerates artherosclerosis due to the constriction of the arterioles. High Blood pressure causes most of its damage by changing the structure of the arterioles or small muscular arteries. The smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall multiply and enlarge so that the walls become thicker and the opening becomes smaller. They also contract, further constricting the opening.

Physical activity even for obese individuals helps greatly. A weight loss of as few as 10 – 15 lbs does wonders to treat hypertension. Minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium and Vitamin C deserve attention when it comes to reversing the effects of hypertension/ high blood pressure. Excessive salt leads to fluid retention and a corresponding increase in blood volume, which therefore increases blood pressure. Most recipes include an unnecessary amount of sodium. So, a diet low in sodium is the proper strategy. A diet rich in these minerals and low sodium will lead to a decrease in blood pressure within days of beginning the new diet. Consistency is the key and will speed up the process of reducing high blood pressure. The combination of a healthy diet and exercise, will give the most benefits and in the shortest time frame.

Food Sources

The key to reducing the risk and/or preventing High Blood Pressure is to live a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes a healthy balanced diet and a regular exercise routine. Americans have seen a surge in the amounts of health ailments and types of health ailments. Americans have also seen a dramatic increase in the amount of people classified as obese. It is not hard to see a correlation between the two. As with most of the health ailments that are arising the key to treating is prevention, by living a healthy lifestyle!

The copyright of the article How to Prevent High Blood Pressure in Health Field is owned by Nicole Marks. Permission to republish How to Prevent High Blood Pressure in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.