Prevent High Blood Pressure
Before It's Too Late

You can prevent high blood pressure. Although high blood pressure affects one in every four American adults, through proper monitoring and treatment, high blood pressure’s horrible effects can be maintained.

The key is to learn how to do so and to focus on improving the risk factors for developing this condition. The more you understand why you're at risk, the more likely you'll be able to reduce those risk factors.

Some risk factors that make it more likely for you to develop high blood pressure are uncontrollable. For example, a person who is older is more likely to develop hypertension than someone who is younger.

For women, the years after menopause and for men, middle age and older are the most common times for development of the condition. Your family history as well as your race may also increase your risks.

However, most of the worst risk factors for high blood pressure are within your control. This includes the following:

• Being overweight or obese causes the workload of the heart to increase significantly, increasing blood pressure.
• Those who are not physically active on a daily basis are at a higher risk for developing hypertension. Those who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates.
• Those who consume too much salt are at a higher risk.
• Those who use tobacco are at a higher risk because the chemicals can damage the arteries.
• Those who have little potassium in their diet can also be at a higher risk since potassium balances the amount of sodium in the cells.

Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?

It was common to see depictions, on television, of an angry man grabbing his chest in pain. However, stress in itself does not cause a heart attack. However, it can increase blood pressure during the period of stress.

When stress levels decrease, blood pressure readings will lower as well. Those who are under a lot of stress, on a constant basis, are likely to have damage to their arteries, which is a permanent condition.

Children Are At Risk

Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, it can affect children as well. Children who have problems with their heart or kidneys are at the highest risk level. Unhealthy diets and a lack of exercise also contribute to childhood hypertension.

Prevention

So, how can you prevent high blood pressure? In most cases, you can control the risk factors that lead up to this condition.

Return to "What Is High Blood Pressure" from "Prevent High Blood Pressure Before It's Too Late"

The Ravages of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can cause so much damage to our bodies, do you have a story to tell about this.

Or how did you overcome this silent killer. Tell us your secret.

Do Share It!

New! Comments