Hypertension - What Are The Best Ways To Handle This Disease
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The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that if you don’t have hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure, by the time you’re 55, then you have a 90% chance of developing it after. The American Heart Association adds that in 90-95% of all cases, there is no definitive cause. In the other portion of cases, high blood pressure and high cholesterol comes as a result of another condition like gout, kidney abnormalities, congenital heart defects or tumors. If you’re one of the many Americans with high blood pressure, then there’s no need to panic. Your doctor has some simple tricks to lowering the strain on your heart and arteries!
If you are hypertensive, then it can be caused by many lifestyle choices. For instance, a 2005 study found that women who took 500 mg of Tylenol each day for headaches or pains were more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who did not. Users of cocaine and amphetamines, as well as smokers, were also more at risk. High body fat, high salt intake, low potassium intake, high cholesterol levels, inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and high stress are often linked to hypertension as well. Health experts say that this condition isn’t so cut-and-dry, that poor lifestyle choices aren’t always the culprit. Some people are just at risk because they’re aging, pregnant or born into a family with a history of high blood pressure.
The next time you visit the doctor, listen for the reading when the inflatable arm cuff is squeezing your arm. The ideal number indicating normal blood pressure is 115/75. The doctor may say you have hypertension if your numbers are 120-139, which indicates systolic pressure, or over 80-89 for diastolic pressure. Stage one hypertension is a reading of 140-159/90-99 and stage two is a reading of 160+/100+. Don’t feel alarmed by one high reading. You may have eaten a high cholesterol breakfast of bacon and eggs before coming in for tests and your heart is just working a little harder than usual. However, you should perform heart health tests either at home or return for another check up very soon to be sure.
A 2006 study found that adults who worked more than 40-50 hours per week were more likely to have high blood pressure and poor heart health than those who worked less than 40 hours. While hard work may be the “American way” and has become a necessity for many families across the US, health experts say that it’s taking its toll on our sleep, our diets and our time set aside to spend relaxing or exercising. All these factors make us more susceptible to hypertension and an untimely death. Perhaps, if we just take a moment to examine our lifestyle choices, then we can add another 10 years onto our lives.
As we start to get older there are all-important numbers that start to weigh heavily upon us. We have to worry about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. These are some of the things that most of us have ignored for the vast majority of our lives now suddenly have great importance. However these are things that should not have been forgotten. A lifetime of mistreatment on the body returns just unfavourable things when left unrestrained.
Your cholesterol level is certainly all-important if you wish to continue in good health and your body working in good order. High levels can lead to heart attacks and stroke, both of these things you do not want to have to contend with. Being concerned in regards to your cholesterol level is not simply for the elderly. It is something both younger people as well as older people need to worry and be aware of if they want to conduct a healthy life. In this article we will go over the basic principles of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand just how significant a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a lipid that is found in the bloodstream of humans and all animals. It can be there from two different sources. The first source is your body itself. The body naturally produces cholesterol. The second source of cholesterol is the food that we eat. It may surprise you to know that not all cholesterol is bad for you. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But you have to know the difference if you want to protect your health and your heart.
What happens when cholesterol gets too high?
Well when LDL gets too high then the cholesterol begins to accumulate on the artery walls and then hardens into plaque. The build up continues until the entire artery is blocked off. This added blockage makes it hard for blood to get to the heart where it can be pumped to the rest of the body. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
When HDL levels are high this is a good thing because researchers believe that HDL helps rid the body of cholesterol build-up. That is why a diet rich in foods that promote HDL is always heavily recommended.
How is the obstruction from the arteries withdrawn?
The initial stage is through medicines but if there is a crucial constricting or occlusion in the artery or blood vessel then a slightly more invasive operation is necessary. The actual processes may change however one frequent method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is entered into the artery and navigated to the where the blockage is located where the build up of plaque has taken place. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the routine is minimally invasive and the majority of patients are capable of going home that day.
How do I know what my cholesterol is?
Well in order to know what your cholesterol is you should have a blood cholesterol testing performed at least every five years. The most recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein blood profile. This test measures not only your total cholesterol but it also specifies the LDL and the HDL levels. It is a great idea to be knowledgeable about where your numbers are and to ensure that they are in the proper healthy range.
For added helpful content click here Lower Cholesterol Levels similarly Foods Low In Cholesterol and at High Cholesterol Zocor
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