Hypertension: Who Gets it and What You can do About It
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition that affects many people in this country. However, many who have high blood pressure are not even aware of the condition, since hypertension often presents with few if any symptoms. Undiagnosed high blood pressure can heighten the risk of many other health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. The good news is that high blood pressure is fairly easy to diagnose when it is tested for regularly, and there are many options in treating this condition that include lifestyle changes and medication.
Who Gets It
Throughout the early years of life and into middle age, men tend to be more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension. In the later years, after menopause, the statistics for women and menopause tend to go up as well. Race is another risk factor in hypertension, with African Americans much more likely to be diagnosed with this condition than whites, and often at an earlier age. You may also have a higher risk of developing hypertension at some time in your life if you have a family history of this condition.
Other types of risk factors for hypertension can be controlled effectively by your lifestyle choices. For example, excess weight and lack of exercise can lead to high blood pressure. So can tobacco use, excess alcohol consumption and chronic stress. By making good lifestyle choices that avoid as many of these risk factors as possible, you can do much to reduce your chances of developing dangerous hypertension.
What You can do About It
Treatment of hypertension is important, even if you don’t feel bad with the condition. Since hypertension can increase your risk of other serious health problems, controlling your high blood pressure is an important step to a healthier lifestyle. Medication is often the first step in controlling hypertension, and there are many prescription drugs that you doctor can choose from to find the one that works the best for you.
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can be an effective way to keep hypertension under control. A healthy diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables is a good first step, coupled with thirty minutes of daily physical activity that will keep your cardiovascular system strong and healthy. These two steps will also help you to maintain a healthy weight, which is another positive step in controlling blood pressure. Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake and learning to manage your stress effectively are other good choices for lower blood pressure. Getting serious about your health is an important step in keeping your hypertension under control and enjoying a healthier lifestyle overall.
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