Posted on 15th July, 2023 at 7:58:31 AM
Hypertension is a silent killer, according to this hypertension specialist. The condition affects around 1.28 billion people globally. Around 46% of the adults are unaware that they have the condition. Given such a grim outlook let’s look at the different aspects of the disease and what you can do about it.
What is hypertension?
Another term for hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure refers to the force which blood exerts on the blood vessel walls.
How to measure high blood pressure?
There are two types of measurements for blood pressure. One is systolic (pressure that is measured when the heart is beating or contracting) and diastolic (pressure that is measured when the heart is relaxing, that is between beats).For example, a pressure reading is taken as (systolic/diastolic) mmHg.
What is the normal range of blood pressure?
The normal range of blood pressure is under 130/80 mmHg.
Stage 1 hypertension (mild) is between 130-139 / or diastolic between 80-89 mmHg.
Stage 2 hypertension (moderate) is around 140/90 mmHg or higher.
The hypertensive crisis starts from 180/120 mm/Hg or higher.
What are the 2 types of hypertension?
People can be diagnosed with one of two types of high blood pressure. They are:
Who is at risk for hypertension?
People who are at risk for hypertension are:
Those who have family members with high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
Unfortunately, high blood pressure does not have any symptoms. Hence, it can only be detected at annual appointments or whenever your pressure is checked for some reason or the other. If you have high blood pressure at two or more appointments, then you are in serious trouble.
What’s a good diet for hypertension?
For hypertension, you need to eat foods that are low in fat, salt, and calories.
You can use flavorings, spices, and herbs but not salt to make your food palatable.
Doctors recommend the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) by consuming more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and reducing salt. The diet is naturally low in sodium.
