Do you want to prevent or manage high blood pressure? Learn about the many causes of high blood pressure and what to do about it.
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can increase your risk for kidney failure, stroke, heart disease, and more. However, you can prevent and manage it effectively by practicing healthy lifestyle habits.
But before you get to treat it, you need to know which type of hypertension you’re experiencing. There are two types of high blood pressure: primary (or “essential”) hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Some of the most common causes of primary hypertension include aging, leading a sedentary life, and other unhealthy habits. In contrast, secondary hypertension happens as a result of a medical problem like kidney or hormonal issues. If left untreated, hypertension may lead to eye damage, peripheral vascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and more.
Causes and Symptoms of Hypertension
Primary hypertension is the most common type of high blood pressure and various factors increase your risk of developing it. For example, if you are older than 55, overweight, and don’t exercise enough, you are more likely to experience hypertension. Other risk factors include eating foods high in salt, using tobacco products, drinking heavily, and having a family history of hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes.
While other conditions may present obvious symptoms, high blood pressure does not typically present any symptoms; that’s why it’s nicknamed the “silent killer.” To diagnose it, your healthcare provider will need to check your blood pressure. If your readings are consecutively high, you may be diagnosed with hypertension.
What To Do About High Blood Pressure
While each person is different, there are some general guidelines that may help across the board. For example, eating healthy foods while limiting salt and fat can help lower blood pressure. You should also be exercising on a regular basis, focusing on aerobic activity and mixing in some strength training as well.
Another thing that can help lower your blood pressure is maintaining a healthy weight range. Plus, if you’re eating healthily and exercising regularly, you’re probably already on your way to losing weight and reaching a healthy BMI (body mass index).
You should also limit your alcohol intake to two drinks per day (for men) or one drink per day (for women). Drinking too much alcohol and smoking or using tobacco products can increase your blood pressure.
Lastly, you can take supplements like L-arginine Plus to boost your blood pressure health. Its ingredients promote circulation, energy levels, blood pressure health, and more. If you’re ready to give yourself the support your health needs, then practice some healthy lifestyle habits and take L-arginine Plus.