Blood pressure is known to vary during the course of a day and with emotional and psychological states. Therefore the stress hormone cortisol, which is made and released by the adrenal glands, rises in a situation of sudden or long-term stress. And which resultantly causes a rise in your blood pressure. In addition, blood pressure also varies with your age and gradually increases, as you get older.
- Most doctors use a cut-off of 140/90 for diagnosing high blood pressure. This means a hypertensive person has a systolic pressure over 140 and/or a diastolic pressure of over 90.Another example is from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For instance, WHO defines hypertension as systolic blood pressure over 160, diastolic pressure over 90, or both.
*
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
In many cases, no distinct cause can be identified. Then again, up to 95% of hypertensive persons fit into this category of ‘essential’ or ‘primary’ hypertension. Furthermore, genetic factors likely play a role in the cause of hypertension. This is because your family members with high blood pressure have an increased tendency to develop the condition.
In primary hypertension, the cause is likely related to genetics plus disruptions in the body systems that control the pumping of blood from the heart. As well as the excretory functions of the kidneys and the degree of resilience of the blood vessel walls.
Nonetheless, in a small number of cases, certain other medical conditions lead to increased blood pressure. These include kidney diseases, Cushing’s syndrome, tumours of the medulla, or an inner portion of the adrenal glands. As well as high levels of thyroid hormones.
How To Lower High Blood Pressure Healthily
How to lower high blood pressure healthily explains the causes and symptoms of high blood pressure. Thereafter concludes that lifestyle changes are a good way to lower high blood pressure.
It is often believed that high blood pressure affects persons with uncontrollable stress levels. However, you do not need to be hard-driving and stressed to have elevated blood pressure. While stress hormones do increase blood pressure, this complex condition is much more than a simple reaction to high-stress levels.
How to lower high blood pressure healthily requires a change in your lifestyle. So, what lifestyle changes can lower high blood pressure?
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise
- Lose weight
- Reduce salt intake
- Cut back on alcohol
- Stop smoking
- Cut back on caffeine
- Reduce stress
- Monitor your BP
- Get support from your doctor
Source – Indulge in Healthy Living
