Arterial hypertension is the most common disease of the cardiovascular system. In our country, up to 40 percent of adults suffer from hypertension, in people over 65 it reaches 60 percent. By the way, in order to recognize the signs in time, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The Lloyds Pharmacy website provides this service. Follow the pinned link.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension is a persistent increase in arterial (blood) pressure, that is, the pressure that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels.
This pressure has upper and lower limits – systolic and diastolic pressure – and is measured in millimeters of mercury.
A blood pressure of 120/80 is considered normal. If the pressure is above 140/90, then this is already high blood pressure or hypertension.
Most people with high blood pressure may not even be aware of it – they do not feel worse, they do not observe any alarming symptoms. And this is the insidiousness of hypertension, which, because of its invisibility, is called the “silent killer.”
The disease may not manifest itself for years and then suddenly lead to vascular accidents: stroke, coronary heart disease (angina pectoris), myocardial infarction, heart and kidney failure, and so on. For more information on this subject, please visit the Lloyds Pharmacy website.
How to Recognize Hypertension?
A reliable way to recognize hypertension is to measure your blood pressure! Other signs of hypertension that recur frequently and regularly can also alert a person that they are at risk of developing:
- headache, dizziness;
- “flies” before the eyes;
- nausea, vomiting;
palpitations, pain in the region of the heart, shortness of breath.
But, in order to understand the treatment and prevention of this disease, go to the Lloyds Pharmacy website and book a consultation.
What Causes Hypertension?
The cause of a stable increase in blood pressure can be various factors:
- Overweight. Pressure increases with increasing body weight. Each extra kilogram adds an average of 1-2 mmHg.
- Salty and fatty foods. The abuse of fatty and especially salty foods contributes to an increase in blood pressure.
- Smoking. When smoking, blood vessels are known to constrict – this leads to an increase in pressure, sometimes by 10-30 mmHg even from a single cigarette.
- Lack of physical activity. Sedentary or untrained individuals have a 20 to 50 percent higher risk of developing hypertension compared to those who lead an active lifestyle.
- psychosocial factors. Various types of stress increase blood pressure.
- Heredity. Heredity is one of the most powerful risk factors for developing hypertension.
By ordering a consultation with a doctor on the Lloyds Pharmacy website, you will know exactly what to do next if you have symptoms of hypertension.
What should be done to avoid developing hypertension?
In order to reduce the risk of developing hypertension, you must adhere to five rules.
Rule number 1. Proper nutrition:
- do not overeat: eat as much food as necessary to restore the energy costs of the body;
- eat regularly: it is better to eat often (4-5 times a day), but not enough and at the same time, and not to eat up at night – have dinner no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime;
- observe a nutritional balance: fats no more than 30 percent, proteins – 15 percent, carbohydrates – 55 percent;
- try to eat fresh foods: more vegetables and fruits, it is better to cook food by steaming or in the microwave, by boiling, baking;
- reduce consumption of fats, oils, salt, sugar.
On the Lloyds Pharmacy website, you will be given a detailed consultation and an effective prevention of hypertension will be prescribed.
Rule number 2. Quit smoking
Rule number 3. Physical activity.
Daily physical activity alone can lower blood pressure by 10–20 mmHg.
- walk more, if possible, refuse to use public land transport and the elevator;
- do exercises every morning;
- engage in recreational physical education (walking, slow running, swimming, cycling, skiing, etc.).
Rule number 4. Stress management
In no case do not try to fight stress with the “usual” method – smoking or alcohol. This will only exacerbate the problem. The most rational approach is teaching the skills to overcome stress, increase stress resistance: relaxation, auto-training, yoga, and physical exercises.
Rule number 5. The most important!
You need to undergo regular medical examinations. Measurement of blood pressure, cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as a careful study of other risk factors by medical specialists will help reduce the likelihood of the onset and development of hypertension at an early stage. Remember that with age, this probability only becomes greater. This is why people over 35 absolutely need to have their blood pressure checked annually and even more frequently.
And for detailed professional advice, follow the link to the Lloyds Pharmacy website! Be healthy!