How to Stay Fit and Stay Healthy

 Hypertension and Your Lifestyle (Part 2)

For a moment, let's go a bit quantitative and a little medical. Taking your blood pressure is one of the first things your doctor or any legally recognized health practitioner will do when you visit them. After that, they usually scribble some jargon on a piece of paper and, with cacographic handwritings, presumably prescribe you some medicines. Blood pressure is taken with a Sphygmomanometer cuffed around your upper arm, and the results are recorded as a fraction of your peak (systolic) to lowest (diastolic) blood pressure (diastolic). The normal systolic and diastolic pressures are 100-140mmHg and 60-90mmHg, respectively.

Secondary hypertension is frequently the result of a known etiology. This indicates that primary hypertension can progress to secondary hypertension, or secondary hypertension can develop on its own due to known causes such as kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, or aortic coarctation, among others. In either case, the body's organs start to fail. The walls of Jericho are crumbling!

At this point, two fresh concepts appear out of nowhere. Hypertensive urgencies and hypertensive emergencies are the two types of hypertensive emergencies. Both involve a sustained high blood pressure above normal (about 180/110 mmHg), but the latter is more likely to occur in the presence of indications of target organ damage. What are these organs that are being targeted? The eyes, kidneys, brain, lungs, and heart are among them. Consider a blind, bedridden person who is paralyzed, has terrible kidneys, and nevertheless has a heart attack. This is an excellent illustration of the living dead. When the doctor adds, "Sir, we would need to admit you immediately," many patients become uncooperative. When the kidneys have filed a resignation letter to the association of bodily parts and both eyes have decided to divorce, this comment is frequently expressed.

• Is hypertension affected by one's age?

While hypertension is a common condition in adults, it is considerably more frequent in the elderly. Children with hypertension are occasionally diagnosed, but this is extremely rare: it's like finding one rotten egg in a warehouse full of packed crates. Children with this condition usually have nasal bleeding, are easily exhausted, regularly breathless, have blurred vision, irritability convulsions, and sometimes facial paralysis. If it's detected in children, it's frequently a sign of renal disease.

• What about me, I'm Pregnant?

Hypertension occurs in 8-10% of all pregnancies worldwide and is defined as being in pregnancy if blood pressure remains above after two examinations with a 6-hour interval between them. It could be a case of pre-existing hypertension that existed before conception. It could also be gestational-related to pregnancy, and it could progress to Preeclampsia, which is marked by excess protein in the urine as well as high blood pressure. Preeclampsia affects around 5% of all pregnancies. Preeclampsia, on the other hand, can escalate to Eclampsia, a life-threatening prenatal hypertensive emergency. It has the potential to kill both the mother and the unborn child. Pregnant women should undergo antenatal exams and their blood pressures should be continuously checked and reduced as needed.

• Drugs are also Culprits.

The dosage determines whether or not a drug is poisonous. Aside from medicine dosage, numerous other factors can induce negative pharmacological effects. Secondary hypertension can be caused by drugs like NSAIDS (pain relievers), oral contraceptives like the morning after pill, drugs that increase your heart rate, drugs that retain fluid in your blood vessels (Antidiuretics), and different steroids.

• What am I supposed to do now?

Hypertension is not a death sentence. Pay a visit to your doctor and pay attention to whatever treatment options he or she suggests. Be obedient. This is a very serious situation. Hypertension that is poorly treated is as good as not treating it at all. Exercise regularly, minimize the salt intake,, and prevent excessive stress. Smoking and alcohol consumption should be avoided, or at least reduced to nonlethal levels. You may also wish to get help from your doctor about quitting these two behaviors. Eat healthily and get plenty of rest. The DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) is recommended. Low-fat dairy foods, plenty of vegetables and whole grains, fruits, and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages should all be included in your meals.

Another hidden threat in our changing world is hypertension. Let's all band together and combat this thing together. Without a question, health is wealth.