High blood pressure, popularly called “hypertension,” is a common health condition in which there is a high pressure of the blood on the walls of the arteries. Several people around the globe suffer from this condition because of several reasons but a few of the most common conditions include diabetes, stress, high cholesterol, and obesity. There are numerous facts about high blood pressure that can help the person to know this condition in detail. In this article, we have explained several interesting facts about high blood pressure. Let’s scroll further to know the details.
1. No Symptoms
Sometimes people suffering from high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms that can help them in the early detection. Due to this reason, this health condition is popularly known as a “silent killer.” People get to know about it only when they get themselves checked by the doctors. So, it is really important to get yourself checked regularly so that this condition doesn’t prove fatal to anyone. Talk to your doctor, take expert advice, and follow a healthy routine to overcome this health condition.
2. Age No Bar
The problem of high blood pressure is not only limited to older adults. People of any age can suffer from high blood pressure. Mostly, people between the ages of 20 to 50 suffer from chronic high blood pressure due to the presence of several other health conditions like diabetes, PCOS, heart conditions, obesity, etc. Excess intake of alcohol, drugs, medicines, and smoking also play an important role in increasing the chances of getting high blood pressure. To be on the safer side, it is always recommended to get yourself checked regularly by a nearby doctor or pharma to keep a check on health.
3. Anxiety and Blood Pressure
Anxiety can refer to excessive fear or worries which are often caused by certain events in life. There is a close connection between anxiety and blood pressure. Though anxiety cannot cause chronic or lifelong high blood pressure, certain episodes of anxiety can cause temporary high blood pressure.
4. Cases in the USA
According to the reports by the American Heart Association, more than 100 million people suffer from chronic high blood pressure and some of them are not even aware of this condition. This is because sometimes there are no symptoms of this health condition. The other factors include obesity, excess intake of alcohol, smoking, intake of drugs, lack of exercise, etc.
5. Affects Black People
According to several reports, it is believed that black Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure in comparison to others which makes their health conditions worse for them. It is said that four out of five black Americans develop the condition of high blood pressure by the age of 50-55 years. There couldn’t be several reasons for this but one of the most common reasons are obesity, diabetes, and excess intake of alcohol and smoking.
6. Life-Threatening
High blood pressure causes life-threatening situations as there are several complications related to it. When the person has high blood pressure, he/she is at high risk of developing several heart diseases, kidney failure, blindness, strokes, chronic heart diseases, and many more. Due to all these reasons, high blood pressure is also called a “silent killer.”
7. Salt Intake
According to the studies, it is shown that the excess intake of salt results in high blood pressure in the person. The excess intake of sodium or salt means excess water retention in the body. When more quantity of water is retained in the body, it results in an increase in the volume of blood that causes pressure on the heart and can result in several heart disorders. So, it is always recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure to keep a check on their salt intake. According to the studies, it is recommended that such people should only consume a single teaspoon of salt in a day.
8. Lifestyle Management
Though high blood pressure is a life-threatening condition it can be managed by making certain changes in the lifestyle. Such changes include keeping an eye on your salt intake and certain other foods that are rich in caffeine. Refraining oneself from alcohol and smoking can also help in managing the issue of blood pressure. Regular exercise and mild medication prescribed by the doctors should be taken to keep the blood pressure under control.
9. Female Hormones
According to several studies, the rates of high blood pressure in both males and females are almost similar before they hit middle age. But according to the sources, once the females hit menopause, there are 75 % chances of them developing high blood pressure. This happens due to the decrease in the levels of estrogen in their bodies, a hormone that is said to improve vascular health in females.
10. Levels of High Blood Pressure
According to medical science, the normal range for blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. People having a blood pressure more than this range is considered to be suffering from the issue of high blood pressure. If such a condition persists for a longer duration, a person may be recommended to change his/her lifestyle and take proper medication to control such condition.