In the moment that you learned you have hypertension; you were probably worried and full of regrets. Hypertension is a medical term for high blood pressure. With hypertension, your blood pressure is elevated for a long period. The normal blood pressure is within 110/70 to 130/90. If your blood pressure is above this range for over a period of time, then it is said that you have high blood pressure or hypertension. A lot of factors are known to cause hypertension.

When reading blood pressure through a sphygmomanometer, you will record two numbers. The first number on the top is called the systole while the second is called the diastole. A blood pressure reading is said to be elevated if it reaches 140/100, or if 40 is added to your usual reading. There are many causes and risk factors for hypertension and all of which involve lifestyle.

Hypertension is said to be genetic in origin. A person who has a relative with hypertension will have greater chances of developing it too. When a disease is said to be genetic or hereditary, this means that it can not be easily avoided. A certain strand in their familys DNA is probably carrying that disease gene.

Lifestyle is said to be sedentary if no extra physical activity is exerted. Usually people with a sedentary lifestyle do not do household chores, would just often watch television or sit on the couch the whole day. If you want to prevent hypertension, then I suggest that you take action now and start making your lifestyle more active. You dont have to force yourself by immediately starting strenuous physical work without conditioning your body. All you need to do is to starting moving your body and do physical activities in moderation.

Exercise always brings good things to your body. With exercise, you are able to improve your bodys overall circulation. Exercise also strengthens your lungs and heart muscles. During exercise, you require more oxygen for your muscles therefore your lung muscles are doing extra work. Your heart muscles are also pumping more blood to be distributed in your system. Exercise also burns off unwanted fat.

Hypertensions greatest causative factor might be high cholesterol foods. If you are fond of eating foods rich in fat, then you should start lowering down your consumption to avoid developing high blood pressure. A high fat diet will build up fat within your arteries causing the pathway of your blood to be narrowed. Narrowed blood vessels will cause an increase in blood pressure.

Avoid eating foods rich in sodium because it causes hypertension. Truly, eating at a fast food restaurant is enticing. Most of us if given a choice between home-made vegetables and McDonalds crispy chicken, the latter will probably be the choice of the majority. Sodium is an electrolyte that causes the cells to release water. When sodium is present, water retention will follow. Because the cells release water, it adds up to the pressure within the blood vessels walls causing an elevation in the blood pressure.

All of the ways to prevent hypertension involve lifestyle changes. Hypertension is not an easy illness to manage because a lot of changes will occur in a persons body with hypertension. Having hypertension will make you at risk for different kinds of diseases. Usually, maintenance drugs and lifestyle changes are the management for hypertension.