Managing Blood Pressure with a Blood Pressure Machine
High blood pressure has been called the "Silent Killer" because there are very few symptoms exhibited in individuals with elevated blood pressure. Often, an individual will discover the high blood pressure during a routine doctor's office visit or physical.
High blood pressure can be caused by a number of factors. Genetics plays a small part, but lifestyle choices can influence blood pressure more than heredity. The National Institutes of Health says that high blood pressure can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, choosing to exercise regularly, following a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods, reducing salt and sodium intake, discontinuing smoking, and drinking alcohol only in moderation.
Reducing high blood pressure is harder than preventing it. The regular use of a blood pressure machine can help monitor pressure levels. If, after altering lifestyle choices, blood pressure remains too high (anything over 140/90 is considered hypertension) consult a doctor for medical options. In some cases, blood pressure can be reduced by the use of prescription medication.
The best way to reduce blood pressure is to get regular, aerobic exercise and maintain a healthy weight. Even losing 15 pounds can register a drop in blood pressure. Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables and decreasing the amount of fast food, fried foods, restaurant foods, and foods like pickles, chips, and tomato juice drinks can help improve blood pressure numbers.
Hypertension left untreated can result in vision problems, when blood vessels burst and bleed; stroke, when blood vessels in the brain bleed into the cranial spaces; kidney failure, when the blood vessels to the kidneys narrow and thicken; and atherosclerosis, when the arteries of the body harden, making it more difficult to circulate blood. The most damaging effect of high blood pressure may be the increased risk for heart attack due to the inability of the arteries to bring oxygen-rich blood to the heart, and congestive heart failure where the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to supply the brain and the rest of the body.
Monitoring blood pressure is the best way to catch the culprit before it does the body any damage. Maintaining a healthy blood pressure can be the difference between spending the retirement years in a nursing home or on board a cruise ship!
