What is High Blood Pressure? Symptoms and Causes

Hypertension or high blood pressure is an ordinary but very dangerous condition that affects millions of individuals on earth. It is often referred to as the “silent killer” since it has no symptoms but can cause serious health problems such as coronary heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

At BioYouth Labs, we are committed to enhancing health and wellness by natural remedies and lifestyle changes that help people live a more fulfilling life. This inclusive guide will examine the cause of high blood pressure, impacts and natural remedies for managing high blood pressure.

What is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is crucial in determining how much force circulating blood applies against your artery walls when being pumped throughout your body by your heart; this force helps to ensure that oxygen and nutrients are supplied to organs and tissues.

However, if the amount of blood that pushes through artery walls remains too high consistently then excessive amounts of pressure builds up in what’s known as hypertension or simply high blood pressure.

Your blood pressure consists of two numbers:

Blood Pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and consists of two numbers: systolic pressure over diastolic pressure giving a complete picture about the cardiovascular system of an individual.

Systolic Pressure: The first, or upper, number shows the pressure in your arteries whenever your heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries. This figure represents the amount of force that blood is exerting on artery walls when the heart contracts actively.
Diastolic Pressure: The second, or lower, number gauges how much pressure is in your arteries while your heart is at rest between beats. The numeral reflects arterial pressure during rest of the heart as it fills with blood again.

This means a normal blood pressure reading is usually around 120/80 mm Hg. In this case, 120 mm Hg refers to systolic pressure whereas 80 mm Hg refers to diastolic pressure.

Systolic Pressure (120 mm Hg): This means that when the heart contracts and pumps out blood, there is a pressure of one hundred twenty millimeters of mercury on the arterial walls.
Diastolic Pressure (80 mm Hg): This means that when the heart is in its resting phase there will be an eighty millimeter mercury per centimeter square pressure against the arterial walls.

High blood pressures indicated by consistent readings above 130/80 mm Hg. This means that during systole (contraction stage of the heart), a strain on arterial walls exceeds 130mmHg and during diastole (relaxation stage) arterial wall tension exceeds 80mmHg.

Whenever the figures of blood pressure are too high, it is a sign that the heart is straining more than before to pump blood. It can lead to several health disorders.

High blood pressure over time can destroy your blood vessels causing atherosclerosis, which will increase risks of heart disease, stroke etc and other serious health problems.

Therefore, understanding this figures and maintaining normal blood pressure is indispensable for cardiovascular wellbeing on one hand while overall healthiness on the other.

Thus, undertake regular checkups as well as embrace heart-healthy habits so as to manage and/or prevent hypertension.

What are the leading causes of high blood pressure?

There are different reasons for high blood pressure including:

Hereditary: There is also a genetic factor in the onset of hypertension. If there were people with high blood pressure like parents or siblings in your family then you have more chances of developing the disease.
Old Age: As people advance in age they become more prone to hypertension. The reason for this lies behind that fact that all those vessels lose their elasticity with time, depriving passing through them from its natural easiness.
Dietary Habits: You should avoid foods rich in salt, fats and cholesterol; otherwise they influence raising your arterial pressure considerably. Typically such ingredients prevail in processed foodstuffs fast food products.
No Physical Activity: Not moving enough could result in a gain weight and it is also a risk factor for hypertension.
Excessive Weight: Being fat or heavy puts more stress on your heart, making it pump harder and causing your arteries to be pressurized.
Smoking: Use of tobacco can damage the walls of blood vessels and constrict arteries causing high blood pressure.
Anxiety: When you have too much chronic stress, there are temporary rises in circulation, which eventually leads to prolonged hypertension.
Drinking Alcohol: Consuming more than required alcohol can increase your blood pressure and weaken your heart.
Long-term Diseases: There are some diseases such as diabetes; kidney disease that might contribute to developing high blood pressure.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

The tricky part about high blood pressure (hypertension) is that it often doesn't have any symptoms. This is why it's called the silent killer. You can have high blood pressure for years without realizing it.

When Symptoms Might Occur

However, in cases of very high blood pressure (a hypertensive crisis), you might experience:

Severe headaches
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Confusion
Nosebleeds

If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Remember: The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly by a healthcare professional.

Would you like to know more about the risk factors, causes, or prevention of high blood pressure?

How is high blood pressure treated?

Managing high blood pressure typically involves medication and changes to one’s way of life. Here are some natural remedies with supplement details and lifestyle adjustments that can help:

1. Sound Eating Habbits

DASH Diet: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet prioritizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins; at the same time it cuts salt, red meat, and added sugars out. Researchers have demonstrated through studies that the DASH diet can lead to significant reduction in hypertension.
Limit Sodium Intake: Lowering salt consumption can assist in reducing your blood pressure. Try sticking with 2,300 mg or less of sodium per day ideally you should aim for 1,500 mg.
Increase Potassium: Potassium helps counterbalance sodium content within our bodies. Examples of potassium-rich foods include bananas, oranges, spinach and sweet potatoes.

Physical Exercise

Cardio-vascular exercise: Some exercises like walking, jogging, cycling and swimming can help decrease blood pressure. At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week should be encouraged.
Resistance training: Make it a habit to include some resistance workouts in your usual routine in order to maintain the blood pressure at a normal level and improve cardiac health.

Also know How Long Is Blood Pressure Elevated After Exercise?

Weight Management

Minor weight loss significantly decreases blood pressure levels. Concentrate on balanced diet and regular physical activities to achieve and sustain a suitable weight.

Limit Alcohol and Quit Smoking

Alcohol: The key word here is moderation; for women one drink per day or less, while for men two drinks per day should not be exceeded.
Smoking: Cessation of smoking has an overall effect on heart health and greatly reduces high blood pressure.

Stress Management

Relaxation Techniques: Such practices as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi etc are effective stress relievers that reduce high BP greatly.
Adequate Sleep: Ensure you get enough sleep every night since poor sleep affects blood pressure negatively as well as general health.

6. Herbal Supplements

Garlic: Garlic supplements are known to lower high blood pressure because they contain allicin which relaxes the walls of the arteries.
Hibiscus: The diuretic and blood vessel dilating properties of hibiscus tea are said to lower blood pressure levels.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fish oil and flaxseed contain omega-3 fatty acids which can reduce high blood pressure and improve the general health of the heart.

7. Regular Monitoring

Regularly checking your hypertension at home is helpful when it comes to monitoring your progress as well as making necessary changes in lifestyle or treatment plan

Conclusion

It is important for individuals with hypertension to understand its causes and effects and employ natural remedies along with lifestyle adjustments. These will ensure that individuals take charge of their own lives, thus minimizing risk factors associated with hypertension.

At BioYouth Labs, we believe in the power of natural solutions to promote well-being. Remember to consult with your healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine, especially if you have existing health conditions.

Embrace a healthier lifestyle today and take the first step towards managing high blood pressure naturally. Your heart and overall health will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can high blood pressure be cured?

While there's no cure for high blood pressure, it can be effectively managed through lifestyle changes, medications, or a combination of both.

What is low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, occurs when your blood pressure is lower than normal. This can cause symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.