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Think you might be at risk for hypertension? Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, means that your blood pressure is consistently higher than it should be.
There are a variety of health problems associated with hypertension, not the least of which are heart attack or stroke. If you are diagnosed with hypertension, you should immediately take steps to alter your diet and your lifestyle so that your blood pressure can go back to normal.
So how do you know if you're at risk for this dangerous condition? And how can you make sure you're safe?
Hypertension is usually diagnosed if you have blood pressure above 140/90. There are two types of the condition - Essential and Secondary. Essential is diagnosed when there is no observable reason for the blood pressure to be high, and secondary is when another illness, such as kidney disease, is causing your high blood pressure. There are a number of contributing factors which might lead to you contracting this illness.
Genetics play a major role, so if there is a history of the condition in your family you should be sure to get regular check ups. Environmental factors such as salt intake, occupational stress levels, being overweight, exposure to stressful conditions such as crowding or excess noise on a regular basis, and alcohol intake can contribute a great deal. You also may be more at risk if you have a special sensitivity to salt or an insulin resistance.
If you are diagnosed with this condition, you will need to make lifestyle changes in order to bring your blood pressure down again. These changes may include eating a more balanced and wholesome diet, getting more exercise, losing weight if you are overweight, drinking less, quitting smoking, and switching to a less stressful work environment. If you're looking for detailed guidance about how to combat your high blood pressure, your doctor can be of help.
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