Coming to terms with hypertension
Kottayam: High blood pressure, or Hypertension in medical parlance, is not a curable health condition though it can be kept at a distance by observing some changes in one's lifestyle.
Stressful life is largely considered as the main cause of temporary BP spikes. The remedy obviously lies in reducing stress. Deep breathing, Yoga, exercise, household chores, gardening, brisk walking, cycling and so on are helpful in reducing stress. Excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking and chewing tobacco are definitely hazardous to those with hypertension.
Maintaining optimum body weight is also important to ward off blood pressure casualties. It is advisable to keep a body mass index (BMI) of less than 23 and waist circumference of less than 90 cm in males and less than 80 cm in females.
It is better to avoid fatty and fried food items. Salty food such as sauce, pickles, chips, etc should be a no-no and they should be replaced with fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium and high in potassium.
Processed and canned food items are high in salt and hence it better is to avoid them. High blood pressure is usually hereditary but that cannot be the only reason. Junk food, sedentary life style, excessive use of alcohol, stressful lifestyle, among others are conducive to accentuating this chronic health condition.
If left uncared, abnormal blood pressure may affect the functioning of the heart and the arteries connecting it to the body, which may ultimately lead to strokes.
Stressful life is largely considered as the main cause of temporary BP spikes. The remedy obviously lies in reducing stress. Deep breathing, Yoga, exercise, household chores, gardening, brisk walking, cycling and so on are helpful in reducing stress. Excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking and chewing tobacco are definitely hazardous to those with hypertension.
Maintaining optimum body weight is also important to ward off blood pressure casualties. It is advisable to keep a body mass index (BMI) of less than 23 and waist circumference of less than 90 cm in males and less than 80 cm in females.
It is better to avoid fatty and fried food items. Salty food such as sauce, pickles, chips, etc should be a no-no and they should be replaced with fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium and high in potassium.
Processed and canned food items are high in salt and hence it better is to avoid them. High blood pressure is usually hereditary but that cannot be the only reason. Junk food, sedentary life style, excessive use of alcohol, stressful lifestyle, among others are conducive to accentuating this chronic health condition.
If left uncared, abnormal blood pressure may affect the functioning of the heart and the arteries connecting it to the body, which may ultimately lead to strokes.
-Manorama Online
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