| To understand hypertension (also known as high blood | | | | What are the symptoms of hypertension? |
| pressure), it is important to understand the heart. The | | | | That is part of the problem. Hypertension usually |
| heart is a pump. It pumps blood through our arteries, | | | | causes no symptoms, so over time, damage to your |
| sending nourishment to all parts of our body. A pump | | | | arteries, heart, and brain can occur before the condition |
| works by generating pressure. But too much pressure | | | | is diagnosed. |
| is a problem. Too much force pushing against arterial | | | | What is the right diet for hypertension treatment? |
| walls, called hypertension, can strain the arteries and | | | | Several studies funded by the National Heart, Lung, |
| the heart itself. | | | | and Blood Institute have found that the DASH diet |
| Hypertension contributes to heart attacks and strokes | | | | (Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension), which is |
| by damaging the inner walls of the arteries and by | | | | very similar to the Pritikin Eating Plan, lowers blood |
| speeding up the inflammatory process. Hypertension is | | | | pressure as well as or better than any drug. Both |
| the number one risk factor for strokes. | | | | DASH and Pritikin promote menus that are low in fats, |
| Why is hypertension a problem? | | | | salt, cholesterol, red meat, and sweets; high in fruits, |
| The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of | | | | vegetables, whole grains, and beans; and moderate in |
| stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, kidney | | | | seafood, poultry, nuts, and low fat or nonfat dairy |
| disease, and even, new research has found, dementia. | | | | foods. |
| Hypertension contributes to heart attacks and strokes | | | | Meditation: |
| by damaging the inner walls of the arteries and by | | | | Relaxation techniques like yoga, transcendental |
| speeding up the inflammatory process. Hypertension is | | | | meditation or any kinds of meditation are found to be |
| the #1 risk factor for strokes. | | | | very useful methods to control high blood pressure. |
| How did you get hypertension? | | | | Exercise: |
| It is easy to get hypertension if you live in the United | | | | Regular exercise will help to lower the blood pressure. |
| States and other affluent countries, like England, where | | | | Start with mild exercise like walking and slowly |
| most citizens eat diets high in salt and fat and low in | | | | increase your intensity and duration. Rigorous exercise |
| fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. An Americans | | | | is a risk of having heart attack. Moderate exercise or |
| lifetime risk of developing hypertension is close to 90%, | | | | walking or jogging helps to reduce the diastolic |
| reported the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in | | | | pressure by about 15 - 20 mm of Hg. |
| 2004. | | | | |