Fight Hypertension

High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension-is caused by several factors. In many cases the specific cause of hypertension is not known. However, family history and genetics play a role, as do diet, lifestyle, and weight.

The single most important dietary factor in high blood pressure is potassium intake. Potassium tends to lower blood pressure, and most adults only get about half the potassium they need. By increasing the amount of potassium in your diet by eating fruits and vegetables, you can reduce hypertension.

Salt intake is also important for high blood pressure. While most adults get too little potassium, they also get too much salt. In fact the average adult gets twice the salt they need in their diet. Salt tends to increase blood pressure. Given that most adults also get half the potassium they need, its easy to see how typical eating habits lead to hypertension.

As we get older, we are more likely to get hypertension. This is due to several factors, such as narrowing of the arteries. Your arteries are like pipes, and a narrow pipe has higher pressure that a wider pipe. As we get older and develop narrowing of the arteries the pressure goes up and we can develop hypertension. The kidneys also don't work as well which means that more salt is returned to the blood stream.

Besides diet, one of the biggest factors which you can control that causes hypertension is being overweight. For many people, simply losing 10-15 pounds can help reduce high blood pressure significantly. Being overweight can influence fluid balance in the body which in turn causes hypertension.

One more factor you can control is exercise. People who exercise more tend to have lower blood pressure. Vigorous exercise isn't necessary, a 30 minute walk every day can go a long way to controlling hypertension.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major killer. It can cause or lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, impotence, and even blindness. If you have a genetic precondition known as an aneurysm it can even cause a blood vessel to break leading to a brain hemorrhage.

Given the serious nature of high blood pressure, doctors want to treat it with powerful drugs. These medications can be full of serious side effects. But with a few changes to diet and lifestyle, its possible to lower blood pressure without drugs.

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