Arteries are the vessels that carry blood to all the parts of the body and some amount of pressure is exerted on the walls on the arteries. This pressure is measured in two ways, namely, when the heart pumps the blood into the arteries known as systolic pressure and when the arteries resist the flow of blood called the diastolic pressure when the heart relaxes between the beats.
Symptoms
When the pressure between the arteries increases, the condition is known as high blood pressure. But this condition is not visible and realized until it is too late and hence rightly called the silent killer disease. When the blood vessels are damaged due to hypertension, it, in turn causes heart disease, heart attack, kidney failure and stroke.
Causes of high blood pressure
Overweight and lack of exercise is the reason for hypertension in majority of the cases. Sodium intake causes water retention in the body and therefore. it is vital to restrict the intake of sodium to about 1500 mgs to 2400 mgs per day. Alcohol and smoking, and intake of caffeine also cause hypertension. But the major cause of hypertension is contributed through high cholesterol and high fatty foods because they tend to build up blocks in the heart that reduces the blood circulation from the heart. Experiencing a lot of stress contributes to building hypertension. Natural remedies for hypertension include living a stress free life, having regular exercise, reducing overweight as also reducing the intake of alcohol and smoking.
Treatment
As for the treatment of hypertension, it must be primarily checked whether the patient is diabetic or not, because it is difficult to control blood pressure of the patient is diabetic. There are many medications to treat patients with high blood pressure such as ACE inhibitors that help to expand the blood vessels and improve blood flow. Beta blockers that gives relaxation to the heart and makes it beat slowly and reduces blood pressure, alpha blockers that widens the blood vessels and gives relaxation, calcium channel blockers that reduces the muscle tension and creates more room for blood circulation and diuretics that helps to get rid of slats and excessive fluids through the kidney.
This, in turn, helps the blood vessels to relax and reduces strain on blood circulation. In addition, those who have high blood pressure should take more of healthy food items that contain calcium and magnesium since they have a positive effect against high blood pressure. Also, fruits and vegetables high in soluble fiber are also recommended. The other items that are healthy for them are omega fatty acids, garlic and incidentally, vegetarians are less prone to hypertension that their non vegetarian counterparts, due to the high fiber content in their food.
Most of the vegetables and fruits contain a high amount o potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin C which are all essential for the body. In short, by leading a healthy life with proper diet; it is possible to prevent hypertension.
