Hypertension which is commonly called high blood pressure is a silent killer that can damage blood vessels and lead to serious health problems.
If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important you check your blood pressure regularly to know if the changes you’ve made are working.
Here’s a breakdown of the diagram seen above, for you to better understand the information you see on a blood pressure monitor:
- Systolic blood pressure (the first number) – shows the pressure of the blood in your artery when the heart beats.
- Diastolic blood pressure (the second number) – shows the pressure of the blood in your artery when the heart is resting between beats.
Whether your current lifestyle is unhealthy or you’ve already been diagnosed with hypertension, here are some lifestyle changes you can adopt:
- Eat a well-balanced diet that contains little salt
- If you must, drink very little alcohol
- Have regular physical activity like exercise or walking
- Avoid worry and stressful situations
- Watch your weight
- Avoid smoking
- Consult your doctor
- Adopt some stress management techniques, such as relaxation, routinely socialize and exercise.
Managing blood pressure is something we do throughout life. By being responsible, you can:
- Reduce high blood pressure.
- Prevent or delay the development of high blood pressure.
- Lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney damage, and sexual dysfunction.
