About 1 in 4 Nigerians has hypertension. It is one illness that can exist without any sign. So, many people walk around without an inkling that they have high blood pressure. Furthermore, hypertension usually has no symptoms, and so it can go undetected for many years.
But, what is Hypertension?
There’s a boring way to say it:
Hypertension is the elevation of blood pressure.
It’s boring because it doesn’t convey any meaning. So, let me take you on a trip to understand it better.
Think about a carwash with all the water, foam, and cars.
A boy is holding the water hose and he is about to start washing a car. He starts by turning on the faucet. The water pours out of the hose limply.
Then he turns on the heat, and water blasts out of the pipe in full force, it is enough to sting you if it lands on your skin. This is hypertension.
The problem is that, while the force of the water in the hose cannot damage it, the story is different for your body. After all, you are not made of rubber or plastic.
Are there types of hypertension?
There are two types of elevated blood pressure.
Primary hypertension happens over time with no identifiable cause.
Secondary hypertension happens due to some underlying illness like kidney disease, heart disease, or side effects of some drugs.
Although high blood pressure is a largely silent disease, some of the symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Eye problems
- Dizziness (SOB)
- Shortness of breath
These symptoms are not specific, that’s why you should go to the hospital regularly for a health check-up.
So, here’s why hypertension is dangerous.
When your blood travels in your body at high pressure, a lot of things can go wrong.
First, debris (also known as atherosclerotic plaques) that accumulate along the walls of your blood vessels over time can get dislodged. This is usually not a problem when the blood vessel is big enough, as they simply travel with the blood. But when they move into smaller vessels, these plaques can block the vessel, leading to strokes or heart attacks.
Secondly, the high pressure at which the blood moves can damage some organs like the eye, and the kidney.
Chronic kidney failure and problems with vision can occur due to uncontrolled hypertension.
What is the normal level for your blood pressure?
Blood pressure less than 120/80 is considered normal.
Luckily, we know some factors that can increase your risk of hypertension, and we have listed some of them below:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Family history and genetics
- Age (it is more common in older people)
- Excessive use of alcohol
- African descent
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Stress
Some factors like age, family history, and genetics cannot be helped. We refer to them as non-modifiable risk factors.
So, what can you do when some of the factors that increase your chances of developing hypertension are present in your life?
You can work hard at preventing it.
Some ways to prevent hypertension include:
- Get fit
Renounce your membership of the couch potato and desk plantain club, and pick up healthy habits like jogging or brisk walking for 30 minutes daily, 5 times a week.
- Cut down Alcohol
If you like to have a bottle or two every day, you need to cut down on it drastically. Better still you can stop taking alcohol, especially if you have a family history of elevated blood pressure.
- Rest
Putting your body in a constant state of stress can cause you to develop hypertension along the line. Always find time to rest. Remember that no one is irreplaceable, and the best version of you is a healthy you.
- Watch what you eat.
Say no to excessive salt and fat in your diet. Say yes to more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains too. You can achieve this by eating a balanced diet. A nutritionist is in a good place to put you through.
- Quit smoking
Smoking has been linked to hypertension, and the best way to avoid it is to simply stop smoking.
- Lose weight
If you are on the big side, you need to lose weight. Obesity increases your risk of hypertension and other chronic diseases. A good way to know if your weight is ideal is by calculating your Body Mass Index. This is done by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.
Once you are diagnosed with hypertension, the treatment is lifelong. You can help yourself now by taking some of these measures.
If you are hypertensive, adhering to your medications and lifestyle modifications will help you stay in tip-top health.
Your Blood Pressure is in your hands.
What will you do with it?
Image Source: hypertension in black people – Bing images
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