Given the situation, where we are all living in complete isolation, the need to take care of our chronic health problems is a priority. Those suffering from high blood pressure or ‘hypertension’ are more at risk during the pandemic. High blood pressure is a silent and slow killer. The symptoms manifest suddenly and cause complications such as heart attacks and strokes. In most cases, it’s not even detected until one goes for a regular check-up.
When blood pressure ailments finally begin to surface, the common symptoms include headaches, breathlessness, blurred vision, dizziness, vomiting, and heart palpitations. Generally, the causes of high blood pressure are lifestyle-related.
We got in touch with Dr Udgeath Dhir, Head of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) at Fortis, Gurugram for a guide on how to control hypertension.
However, in order to understand hypertension, one needs to understand what blood pressure is. Dr Dhir explains, “Blood pressure is the force with which the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries of the body. This is also called systolic blood pressure. In between contractions, the cardiac ventricles momentarily relax, and this is called diastolic blood pressure.”
He further shared a table to understand the range of readings better. Take a look.
Systolic (mm Hg) Diastolic (mm Hg)
Normal Below 120 Below 80
Elevated (hypertension) 120–129 Below 80
Stage 1 hypertension 130–139 80–90
Stage 2 hypertension 140 or above 90 or above
Hypertensive crisis Over 180 Over 120
Major causes of high blood pressure
Obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, a junk food diet that is rich in salt, lack of physical exercise, emotional stress, smoking, and high caffeine intake are the main causes of hypertension. Dr Dhir explains, “The body size increases, the arteries stretch and narrow, blood needs to be pushed more profusely and the pressure rises. Accounting for 50% to 60% of the cases, there’s a blockage in the renal arteries. Once this blockage is removed, the blood pressure stabilizes.”
“Other factors that can cause hypertension, and which are not gender-specific include a blockage in the artery which supplies blood to the kidney and the presence of intestinal cancers,” he adds.
Control your diet to maintain a healthy blood pressure
For starters, change of lifestyle and eating habits is imperative. Interesting recipes with vegetables and whole-grain foods should become a staple. Dr Dhir suggests, “Diet control in terms of what is eaten, and portion control is of immense importance. Salt is a big no-no and magnesium, potassium, sources of fiber are highly recommended. They should be taken in through natural sources like fruits and vegetables.” Additionally, magnesium present in nuts, lean meats, poultry also helps to control hypertension.
Other than that, a moderate amount of exercise along with proper nutrition will help bring down the blood pressure. Exercises such as walking, swimming, aerobics, and yoga are also useful in managing high blood pressure.
In some cases, due to family history, a person suffers from hypertension. Here medication, exercise, a balanced diet is necessary and not an option. Medication, however, will depend from person to person and should only be taken in consultation with a doctor. “My advice would be that as a hypertension patient, or even an adult above the age of 40 one should get their pressure checked every 2 months. However, do not be mistaken. Nowadays due to an increase in sedentary lifestyle patients between the age of 20 and 30 are also being diagnosed with hypertension,” concludes Dr Dhir.
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