High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that puts you at risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney damage or the formation of an aneurysm. This condition occurs when the flow of blood creates high pressure against the artery walls; if this pressure remains too high, it becomes harder for the heart to pump blood further, resulting in heart-related diseases. This happens often without showing any early warning signs. So, it is recommended to consult a doctor for some lifestyle tips for managing blood pressure. In this article, we’ll look at different methods of treatment of high blood pressure.
Treatment of High Blood Pressure
A dedication to follow a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent and manage high blood pressure. There are many effective ways to lower your blood pressure levels, which involve:
A healthy diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy foods can help regulate blood pressure. Get plenty of potassium from natural sources like dried fruits and more green leafy intake, which can help lower blood pressure. It is always advisable to eat healthy fat over saturated fat and trans fat. Healthy food intake helps to maintain blood pressure in the body.
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Maintain a healthy weight
When a person is overweight or obese, then losing weight can help control blood pressure in the body. Lowering weight will also lower the risk of heart-related complications. It has been studied that when blood pressure drops by about 1 mm Hg then it sheds your body weight with every 2.2 pounds or 1 kilogram of body weight. Researchers say that even a drop in a single 1 kg weight has significant value in regulating blood pressure.
Regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, manage weight and reduce the risk of chronic health conditions. Researchers recommend doing so-called “exercise snacks” to lower blood pressure in which a person breaks up their sitting time every 30 minutes for just a few minutes throughout the day it includes light walking or simple exercises. You should aim to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity to lower your top blood pressure reading by about 11 mm Hg and the bottom number by about 5 mm Hg which will improve the blood flow in the body which will regulate blood pressure levels in the body.
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Practice good sleep habits
Improper sleep patterns may increase the risk of heart disease and other chronic daily so one should maintain a proper sleep cycle and should go to bed and wake at the same time every day, including weekends to have a good sleep routine every day. If you face trouble in the sleep cycle then consult with your healthcare professional to get proper advice on sleep patterns
If a person is stressed out, he releases secretory hormones called glucagon and cortisol, which shows elevated blood sugar that further leads to a condition; called arthrosclerosis where nerve and blood vessels are damaged and become narrow, causing high blood pressure. Some scientific studies have shown that exercise, relaxation, yoga, and meditation significantly reduce stress and lower blood pressure levels. So, connecting with support groups can help to reduce stress in our daily lives rapidly.
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High blood pressure drugs
Sometimes, changing lifestyle alone is not enough to treat high blood pressure. So, in such cases, medications are given to treat the condition. Many different types of drugs are given in various combinations to keep blood pressure under control. The High blood pressure medicines are categorised below based on how they work
- Water pills: These drugs are known as diuretics. They help remove sodium and water from the body and are used as first-line medicines to combat high blood pressure
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These drugs relax blood vessels by blocking chemicals that narrow blood and damage the blood vessel linings.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These drugs also relax blood vessels by blocking the action of receptor that narrows the blood vessels.
Conclusion
A healthy diet is one of the best ways to manage blood pressure. This can further reduce the risks of getting other diseases like cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and liver diseases effectively. A person may also need medication to treat hypertension cases. If you have high blood pressure, you must visit a doctor for approval before starting any medication or joining a fitness program. Health insurance can help cover regular check-ups, medications, and treatments, ensuring better management of hypertension.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.
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