The Dangers Of High Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure can cause significant damage to the body if not kept in check. Damages can begin long before any notable symptoms are experienced and left uncontrolled, high blood pressure could lead to serious health concerns. Treatment and certain lifestyle changes are essential in reducing blood pressure to healthy levels. Those who experience high blood pressure should be well aware of the symptoms and dangers of this condition.
Untreated high blood pressure can lead to artery damage which in turn could lead to various health conditions such as stroke, blocked arteries, kidney failure, heart attack and heart failure. Severe damage to the heart is often the result of prolonged high blood pressure.
“Over time, the strain on your heart caused by high blood pressure can cause your heart muscle to weaken and work less efficiently. Eventually, your overwhelmed heart simply begins to wear out and fail.” – cnn.com
Studies have shown that regular exercise can help to lower blood pressure to a normal level. Further studies have shown that simply being physically active while at work does not offer the same benefits to the body as planning for additional exercise every day. Studies done show that the risks of developing high blood pressure are much lower, 11 percent lower in fact, among people who exercise at least one to three hours every week and more than 19 percent lower among those who exercise more than four hours each week. This exercise, however, is recreational as opposed to normal daily activity.
“The results suggest that the more leisure-time exercise you do, the lower your risk of developing high blood pressure.” – consumer.healthday.com
Recreational exercise, other than normal daily activity that is, helps to lower blood pressure and keep it in check by preventing excess weight gain and reducing the resistance of blood vessels to blood flow. It can also help to improve otherwise poor sensitivity to insulin. While the study does not specifically show that people can prevent high blood pressure by exercising regularly, it does suggest that those who exercise simply for fun are at a much lower risk for developing many health related complications and one of those is high blood pressure.
It is estimated that more than 70 million people in the United States are currently dealing with high blood pressure. High blood pressure in children can as much as triple the risks for developing hypertension in adulthood and can further complicate many health conditions that are symptoms of or the result of high blood pressure.
Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine found that of many adults who had high blood pressure readings, approximately 18 percent of those also had high blood pressure readings while they were children. Only about 8 percent of adults with this problem did not experience the problem as a child suggesting that most children who have hypertension are going to deal with this issue through adulthood.
“This study highlights the need for pediatricians to regularly check blood pressure and weight.” – huffingtonpost.com
Since high blood pressure has been linked to such issues as stroke, heart disease, heart attack, aneurisms and many other potentially fatal disease, it is essential that it be kept at normal levels. If high blood pressure is found in a child, it should be monitored and treated to prevent the issue from continuing through adulthood.
Studies have shown conclusively that those who live with prolonged high blood pressure are at an increased risk for developing many serious health conditions. There are a number of medications on the market that are designed to lower blood pressure to more normal limits although many adults can learn to control their blood pressure through simple diet and lifestyle changes.
Eating a diet rich in lean proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables is essential. Avoiding saturated fats and refined sugars is often suggested to anyone who shows symptoms of hypertension. Lifestyle changes include avoiding stress as well as getting regular exercise, again this means exercise that is not part of a typical day. Walking, hiking and other enjoyable activities are often suggested to patients who experience high blood pressure and want a more natural way to lower their blood pressure as opposed to taking medications.
High blood pressure can be fatal in many cases but it can also be combated with just a few key changes in diet and lifestyle. Eating right, exercising and avoiding high levels of stress can help to bring blood pressure down and avoid the often lifelong health conditions that often accompany hypertension.
