Overcoming Hypertension To Prevent Early Death With These 3 Ways Hypertension or high blood pressure is often said to be the silent killer. Because, often high blood pressure does not show signs.
Although it does not cause symptoms, hypertension can lead to health complexities, such as stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, and even death.
But in fact, most of the deaths, illnesses, and disabilities caused by high blood pressure can be avoided.
The Surgeon General’s Call To Action To Control Hypertension writes, only 1 in four people with high blood pressure can manage it. According to R. Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE, cardiac specialist from the Banner Heart Health Center – University Medicine Heart Institute, there are three most important things that are important to understand to lower blood pressure, which in turn can save lives.
Know your blood pressure
If possible, check your blood pressure regularly at home. Many blood pressure measuring devices or blood pressure meters at affordable prices.
Regularly check your blood pressure at home. It is very important to sit quietly for 5 minutes before doing it.
“Once you get used to it, this will make you an expert at measuring your own blood pressure, which in turn can help guide your doctor in the best treatment options,” says Hurst.
Talk to your doctor about how often to check your blood pressure and when is the best time to have it checked.
Treat the cause of hypertension
If your kitchen faucet keeps running and causing water to pool, then the first thing to do is turn off the faucet. The same logic applies to hypertension treatment. If you know the cause, the best treatment is to eliminate the cause.
Hurst mentions six common causes of hypertension, namely:
- Too much sitting, lack of activity. In fact, a modest level of activity can lower your blood pressure and minimize medication.
- Eating too many processed foods. Especially processed foods that are high in sodium.
- Being at an unhealthy weight. Losing 5%-10% of your body weight can lower your blood pressure more than any medication.
- Excess alcohol. Drinking more than a glass of alcohol a day can increase your blood pressure.
- Untreated sleep disturbances or sleep apnea. Experts estimate that 30%-50% of people with high blood pressure have sleep apnea and most of them go untreated. If you snore, wake up feeling tired, or your partner notices that you stop breathing periodically during sleep, ask your doctor right away if you should get sleep apnea checked.
- Primary aldosteronism – This is a hormone problem that was once thought to be very rare, but recent research has shown that it is relatively common. If your blood pressure is not well controlled on some medications, ask your doctor if high aldosterone levels could be the cause. Talk to your doctor about what might be causing your high blood pressure. Genetics does play a role in hypertension, but experts estimate that half or more of high blood pressure is caused by factors we can control.
Obedient to take medicine
“No one wants to take medicine. I understand that. And I firmly believe that we all need to be selective about any medications we take – including supplements, and know the benefits and risks,” said Hurst.
However, if you know your blood pressure is always above 130/80 – even after doing everything you can to treat the cause of high blood pressure, not taking blood pressure medication will actually put you at higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death. early. First-line high blood pressure drugs have been shown to be effective, inexpensive, and have a low risk of side effects.
“It’s important to work with your doctor to have a high blood pressure treatment strategy that makes sense to you and effectively controls your blood pressure,” said Hurst, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona.
Hurst warns, although hypertension or high blood pressure often causes no symptoms, its effects on our health are potentially damaging.
But you have more control than you may realize to lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death. By following the three steps above, you are well on your way to controlling your blood pressure – and not becoming a statistic.
Source: kompas.com
