Hello, everyone. I welcome you all again to my blog, and I am very excited to write and share my blog here in this community. It is a pleasure to finally come up with this community initiative. I hope we will sustain this project with the support of the community members and the Hive ecosystem at large.
Hypertension is becoming the deadliest disease in this century and it is because a lot of people don’t give it much attention and treatment. As of today, hypertension has become a widespread disease that has affected millions of individuals around the globe due to less attention and care given. We have overlooked high blood pressure and we are now focused on HIV/AIDS, Hep, and the like more which today these conditions are manageable than before. If care isn’t given to hypertension, it may lead to other severe conditions such as kidney damage, heart disease, stroke, and loss of vision.
These risks associated with high blood pressure can be managed or prevented once maximum attention is given to it with treatment. I delved into this post without even defining what exactly this hypertension is all about right? First of all let’s define blood pressure after which we will look at situations or conditions that define hypertension or hypotension. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood exerted against the walls of the arteries when circulating throughout the human body.
In reading or checking the blood pressure levels of an individual, there are two readings taken which are systolic pressure and diastolic pressure readings. Systolic pressure readings are the top number while diastolic readings are the bottom number. A patient or an individual is said to have normal blood pressure when the reading is around 120/80 mmHg. An abnormal high blood pressure known as hypertension is when an individual or a patient’s reading is above 140/90 mm Hg whilst an abnormally low blood pressure known as hypotension is when an individual or a patient’s reading is below or lower than 90/60 mm Hg.
Now we understand what hypertension means and some of its side effects so let’s briefly discuss some of the tips or measures to help in its management. In managing hypertension, a diverse approach is incorporated which includes medications, changes in lifestyle, and monitoring your diet intake. Below are some tips one can adhere to in managing hypertension.
First of all, regularly monitor your blood pressure level. It is advised that as a hypertension patient, you have the sphygmomanometer or the blood pressure cuff so you can monitor your blood pressure levels frequently and daily. Having it will help you monitor your condition and how severe or better it is getting every day. Secondly, regular exercise should be a habit you would inculcate in your daily activities. Excess weight can also lead to an increase in blood pressure and as a matter of that one needs to exercise regularly to regulate or reduce the excess weight.
In addition, a high blood pressure patient is advised to reduce the intake of sodium as consuming too much of it increases blood pressure. It should be limited to less than 2,300 milligrams in a day, preferably stop eating sodium-containing foods or low-sodium-containing foods. Again, limitation of alcoholic intake and an increase in the intake of water. High blood pressure patients who are found of taking alcohol should avoid its intake or reduce it drastically at a go. This excessive intake of alcohol also increases blood pressure and hence should be avoided. However, the patient needs to be hydrated always as water helps to reduce blood pressure in humans.
Moreover, a hypertension patient should make sure he/she follows the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. This diet provides a well-analyzed eating plan for hypertension patients to help in regulating their condition. Lastly, hypertension patients should always try to get enough sleep and also adhere to the medications provided to them by their Doctors or Physicians.
Thank you all for your time and attention in reading my post. I am looking forward to seeing you all in my subsequent posts.
