Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is regarded as a ‘silent killer’ as it typically presents with no symptoms. When it is undiagnosed, it can cause serious health problems and damage blood vessels. Additionally, it has no cure, so people who suffer from it have to make lifestyle changes and take prescribed medication to control it for a better quality of life.
As experienced family care physician Dr Wael Berro knows, getting your blood pressure checked early is often the best way to manage it.
How Do You Know It’s High?
A diagnosis of high blood pressure is often confirmed following a check undertaken by a healthcare professional. While there are home kits that people can use to monitor their blood pressure, a healthcare professional can advise on a proper course of action based on the readings. For the individual, knowing the numbers and tracking them over time can show if lifestyle changes are working.
Typically, a blood pressure reading will have two numbers: an upper one called systolic and a lower one known as diastolic. Normal blood pressure has a range for each of these two numbers, and a check will establish whether an individual is normal, elevated, or stage 1 or 2 hypertension – or if they are in a hypertensive crisis.
Lifestyle Changes
If the readings come back high and there is a medical diagnosis of hypertension, a healthcare professional will likely recommend taking up a heart-healthy lifestyle to control and lower the blood pressure. This could include making changes in areas such as:
- Alcohol Consumption and Smoking: For some people, the change might be to reduce their consumption of alcohol. For others, it may mean completely staying away from alcohol. People who smoke have to quit completely.
- Physical Activity: This means taking up physical activities that exercise the body, from taxing activities such as hiking or high-intensity interval training to relatively ‘calmer’ exercises like walking or jogging.
- Sleep and Stress Management. Developing healthy sleep routines is necessary, as good-quality sleep is vital for managing stress. Additionally, relaxation techniques, exercise and counselling are avenues for reducing stress.
- Heart-Healthy Diet: Ultimately, a heart-healthy diet is very important in the fight against high blood pressure. A combination of essential nutrients and low-salt foods can be as effective as medication.
If lifestyle changes require medication, it’s essential to discuss dosages and any potential side effects with your healthcare provider.