High blood pressure is also called a “silent killer,” as it usually has no warning signs. But the good news is that high blood pressure, or hypertension, can often be prevented or treated. Early diagnosis is the key. Simple, healthy changes can keep high blood pressure from seriously damaging your health.
Over time, hypertension can harm several important organs, including your heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes.
The common causes of hypertension are:
Smoking
Being overweight
Lack of physical activity
Too much salt in your diet
Drinking too much alcohol on a daily basis
Sleep apnoea
Because it usually has no symptoms, the only way to know for sure that you have hypertension is to have a blood pressure test.
Blood pressure is given as 2 numbers. The first number represents the pressure in your blood vessels as the heart beats (called systolic pressure). The second is the pressure as your heart relaxes and fills with blood (diastolic pressure).
Normal blood pressure—is 120/80, meaning systolic blood pressure is 120 and diastolic pressure is 80.
For Healthy Blood Pressure
Keep a healthy weight.
Be physically active. Get moving for at least 30 minutes most days of the week
Eat a healthy diet. Rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy and low in saturated fat and added sugars
Cut down on salt
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
Don’t smoke. Smoking raises your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.
Get a good night’s sleep. Tell your doctor if you’ve been told you snore or sound like you stop breathing briefly when you sleep—a possible sign of sleep apnoea. Treating sleep apnoea and getting a good night’s sleep can help reduce blood pressure
Avoiding or learning to manage stress can help a person control blood pressure.