{"id":1258,"date":"2017-11-16T06:42:57","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T06:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2021-03-15T20:19:41","modified_gmt":"2021-03-15T20:19:41","slug":"10-must-know-facts-hypertension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-must-know-facts-hypertension\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Must-Know Facts About Hypertension"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Hypertension is the technical term for high blood pressure. This is a condition in which a patient has a large amount of force building up in their blood vessels (veins and arteries) owing to numerous factors.<\/p>\n

To understand blood pressure, it can help to first understand pressure in general. Pressure describes how densely packed particles are inside any closed space. If you have a balloon that\u2019s empty and then starts blowing air into it, the pressure will increase inside that balloon as it fills with more and more air. Eventually, though, something will have to give and this will likely cause the balloon to explode or your mouth to become painful!<\/p>\n

Low pressure is the opposite. This is when there isn\u2019t enough air inside the balloon and therefore it feels limp and flaccid. When there\u2019s not enough air blood inside your veins it is the same, and they lack the force necessary to send the blood around the system.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot more to understand about hypertension though and the better you get to grips with these nuances, the better chance you\u2019ll have of dealing with hypertension in your own life. Read on for some very useful \u2013 facts about hypertension.<\/p>\n

1. High Blood Pressure May Be Linked to Sleep Apnea<\/h3>\n

One of the most common causes of high blood pressure is poor sleep. When you don\u2019t get enough sleep, this sends signals to the body that not all is well and it goes into a state almost like a shock. More specifically, it is similar to stress<\/a>. The body is now in fight or flight mode and what you may not realize is that this is one of the main reasons getting poor sleep feels as bad as it does!<\/p>\n

But what if you think your sleep is fine? Well, then it\u2019s time to look into less obvious causes \u2013 such as sleep apnea. This can disturb your sleep while going undetected for long periods of time!<\/p>\n

\"\"2. BPA Can Cause Higher Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n

There are numerous different things that can contribute to high blood pressure but one of the lesser-known ones is BPA. This is an addictive chemical that is used in the creation of numerous plastics and other materials.<\/p>\n

This has numerous unwanted side effects and can, for example, lead to low testosterone<\/a> and higher estrogen! It also causes high blood pressure though, so keep away!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. So Can Omega 6<\/h3>\n

Many people think that omega 6 is a healthy and beneficial nutrient, simply because omega 3 is. The reality is that omega 6 is actually more of a hindrance than a help in most cases.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because omega 6 is present in so much of our food where it is used as a preservative. While this fatty acid is not bad for us (it\u2019s actually useful in the right context) it can nevertheless cause health problems when we get too much and don\u2019t have enough omega 3.<\/p>\n

These include increased inflammation<\/a>, which can cause higher blood pressure.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Fat Isn\u2019t Bad<\/h3>\n

But on the whole, fat<\/a> isn\u2019t the enemy that it was once thought to be! Fat often gets a bad reputation but the truth is that fat is not the enemy at all. In fact, some kinds of fat can be very good for your blood pressure.<\/p>\n

One such example is omega 3 fatty acid, which can reduce omega 6 (thereby reducing your inflammation) and improve cell membrane permeability. But even \u2018regular\u2019 saturated fat such as those from meats, eggs, and other sources can actually be beneficial. That\u2019s because they will help you to elevate your \u2018good\u2019 kind of cholesterol: HDL.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Visceral Fat is a Problem<\/h3>\n

Losing weight is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health when suffering from high blood pressure. What might surprise you though is to learn that there are specific areas where fat is more problematic than others. And the biggest example of this is visceral fat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is fat that collects around the belly and the waist and which will surround your organs. This is by far the most dangerous kind of fat and can lead to higher blood pressure and numerous other health complaints besides.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Stress and Viscosity<\/h3>\n

We all know that stress is bad for our blood pressure but the tendency is to presume that this due solely to an increase in heart rate. However, the effects of stress are actually much more far-reaching and profound than this. That\u2019s because stress also causes the blood to increase in viscosity<\/a> \u2013 meaning that it gets thicker.<\/p>\n

The reason for this is that stress (fight or flight) is intended to help us increase our chances of survival in a confrontation. By making our blood thicker, our body reduces the chances of us bleeding out and encourages clotting to seal open wounds. But this also elevates blood pressure for obvious reasons.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Hormones Play a Role<\/h3>\n

What you might not realize is that your hormones<\/a> will also play a big role in your high blood pressure. This is why you are more likely to have low blood pressure during pregnancy. At this time, your body produces more progesterone and this causes blood pressure to drop.<\/p>\n

At other points in your pregnancy however, your blood pressure can actually increase. This is because your body will produce more blood in order to supply both you and the fetus.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Aspirin Can Help<\/h3>\n

Aspirin<\/a> is a popular painkiller that can also help to improve your high blood pressure. This is because it also acts as a blood thinner and by making your blood thinner, it can help it to flow more easily around your circulatory system.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already seen the link between stress, high blood pressure, and blood thickness \u2013 but this has the opposite effect!<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Too low is a Bad Thing Too<\/h3>\n

When we learn that high blood pressure is a problem, we often then tend to assume that this means low blood pressure must, therefore, be a good thing. That is true to some extent, but what is important to remember is that you can have too much of a good thing.<\/p>\n

When blood pressure gets too low, it\u2019s like trying to drink water through a straw that is too wide. This can make it difficult for your body to pump the blood upwards and towards your brain and as a result, you are likely to feel lightheaded and dizzy<\/a> among experiencing a range of additional symptoms.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Improving Your Resting Heart Rate Can Help<\/h3>\n

As mentioned, the link between losing weight and improving blood pressure<\/a> is well understood and well-documented. However, if you really want to improve your blood pressure, you also need to focus on specific aspects of your fitness.<\/p>\n

The best way to do this is by addressing your resting heart rate. If you go on long runs, then you will increase the size of your left ventricle. This increases the volume of blood it is able to hold and move around your body. The result? Your heart rate can slow down, thus leading to permanently reduced blood pressure.<\/p>\n

And while exercises like HIIT are very good for many things, they are inferior when it comes to this particular aspect of your cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n

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