As a result of our poor lifestyle, we are exposed to many diseases that trouble us in more ways than we think. High blood pressure is one of the diseases that people wish never to have. However, you can quickly get high blood pressure in this day and age. Stress and tension are the most significant contributors to high blood pressure. You may have to take medications all your life to deal with it if you don’t take measures to control it actively. Today, we discuss what causes blood pressure and how you can control it.
What Are the Causes of High Blood Pressure?
If you survey the population, you will get to know that every other person has a high blood pressure issue. We have our lifestyles to blame here, but there are other contributors. Let’s see what causes high blood pressure:
- Tension and Stress
Tension and stress are two main things that can slowly kill you. The chances of high blood pressure increase when you deal with trauma. Nowadays, we spend most of our time online; hence, cyberbullying is becoming popular. It can cause mental health issues and an excessive comparison with people online. You may have heard people’s blood pressure shooting when they hear bad news.
- Salt Intake
Excessive salt intake causes water retention, which is not generally great. However, having excessive salt and oil can foster fat accumulation in the body. More fat means you are prone to diseases such as high blood pressure.
- Obesity
Being obese has done nobody any good, and it is a significant contributor to severe medical conditions. Fat accumulation within the body causes high blood pressure. Every other obese person is dealing with blood pressure; hence, it is one of the main reasons.
- Family History
Do you see your family using blood pressure apps because they deal with it? You will most likely deal with the same issue if you are not lucky enough. Your genes play a pivotal role in determining the kind of issues you will be dealing with in future.
How Can You Prevent High Blood Pressure?
Nobody wants to deal with health limitations; hence, prevention is better than medicine. Here is what you can do to prevent dealing with blood pressure:
- Shed the Weight
Keep that extra beef away from your body if you want to be healthy. There are many ways to lose weight, but eating healthy and exercising should be your primary focus. Add healthy ingredients such as turmeric and flax seeds to your diet. Turmeric benefits for weight loss are unbeatable; hence, adding it to your diet is the way to go. Don’t make it an everyday habit if you indulge in high-calorie foods.
- Meditate
Do you know one of the biggest blood pressure triggers is stress? If you are under a lot of stress, your blood pressure will rise to abnormal levels. Meditation is a form of self-care which helps reduce stress and tension. It is essential to ensure you meditate for at least 10 minutes every day or indulge in an activity that helps you relax.
- Cut Out Salt and Spices
Salt is the main ingredient that makes food flavorful. However, you will have to cut back on salt and other spices significantly. You can add turmeric and cumin seeds to make your food flavorful. Turmeric and blood pressure are two opposite things. Overall, you must keep your food healthy and not add too much salt.
- Keep a Check on Your Blood Pressure
Sometimes, you will feel dizzy, and your head will spin crazy. However, with the workload piling up, you ignore the symptoms and go to work. Ignoring high blood pressure can also cause sudden death. Hence, it should not be ignored no matter what, and action should be taken faster. Hence, we suggest using blood pressure tracking apps to check your health. If the blood pressure increases more than average and doesn’t come down for longer, see a doctor immediately.
High blood pressure can take a toll on your body and suck all the energy out of you. Try to control blood pressure in the initial stages by making healthier lifestyle changes. If you take medicines for blood pressure, you become dependent on them.
Is High Blood Pressure Life-threatening?
Dealing with high blood pressure once in a while is not life-threatening and can be controlled. People dealing with genetic blood pressure don’t have it as bad. However, a bad lifestyle is the biggest trigger that can lead you to take regular medications.
If your blood pressure shoots quickly, you need to take medical advice. People are afraid to take medications for life long, but it is the only way to go. Doctors generally put you on temporary medication to see how your body reacts and heals. However, most of the time, people are lucky enough and have to take medications all their life.
Blood pressure can be life-threatening because it can cause damage to your arteries. In longer-run, you can get a stroke or heart failure. Dealing with high blood pressure constantly can weaken your heart muscles. Traumatic news can lead to a stroke which people may not survive.
Apart from the heart, it is also damaging to the brain. Brain stroke is common in high blood pressure patients because oxygen does not get delivered to it properly. Dementia and minor cognitive impairment are things caused by blood pressure. Hence, proper medication and care are crucial for blood pressure.
What to Do When Your Blood Pressure is Shooting?
Shooting high blood pressure can lead to a stroke or brain damage. Such a condition should not be taken lightly, and the patient should be rushed to the hospital. If your blood pressure is out of control, you should call 911 and follow the instructions they tell you.
Also, call someone at home to be with you constantly and monitor your blood pressure. If you are prescribed high blood pressure medicine, take them immediately. Take deep breaths and relax your mind as much as possible before the help reaches you.
Another way to bring down shooting blood pressure is to drink chamomile tea or hibiscus tea. While you are drinking the tea, try some breathing exercises. Focus on your breathing and try to relax your mind as you exhale. Hold each breath for a few seconds before releasing it and repeat it a few times.
You can also eat dark chocolate because they are full of endorphins that help in quick relaxation. Do not take coffee or tea at any cost to relieve your headache. If the situation is getting worse, take two to three aspirins. Aspirin or disprin helps in blood thinning which reduces the chances of stroke.