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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Health Issues and Diet >>  High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment


High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension is a very common condition, affecting millions of men and women in the United States. When a person suffers from high blood pressure, it means that the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is quite high, which in turn could trigger off many health problems, like heart diseases. As soon as people notice high blood pressure signs, it is important for them to consult a doctor and undergo the right treatment. However, there are many people who suffer from high blood pressure for years, before they realize it, as they do not recognize the symptoms of the condition. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for people to keep themselves aware of what the different high blood pressure signs and symptoms are.

Some of the most common high blood pressure symptoms in men are:

• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Andropause
• Erectile dysfunction
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness

Many people look for high blood pressure symptoms in the eyes. This is because hypertension causes the blood vessels, present in the retinal area to get damaged, due to which the patient may face difficulty while focusing on something visually. This eye problem is usually accompanied by headaches, eye pain and swelling too. Taking over the counter medication may relieve the discomfort, but it neither addresses the vision problem, nor reduces high blood pressure.

High blood pressure symptoms in women are quite similar to those that are seen in men. Women suffering from high blood pressure experience headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and loss of sexual desire. Pregnant women are more likely to face high blood pressure problems, as compared to other women. In most cases, specific high blood pressure symptoms during pregnancy are not really evident; women only realize that their pressure is high, when they go in for their routine checkup.

People who experience high blood pressure symptoms like dizziness with regularity could be at a high risk of injuries or something worse. Hence, in order to lead a normal lifestyle, it is absolutely essential for all people to undergo regular blood pressure checkups and if required, undergo the right treatment. Unfortunately, there is no cure for high blood pressure, i.e., once affected, the condition cannot be undone. However, it is possible to manage to condition, by regulating the pressure of the blood in the arteries, with the help of medication, home remedies, a diet, an exercise routine and a few simple dietary changes. However, these activities need to be continued on a long term basis, as high blood pressure management is a life-long commitment.

High Blood Pressure Treatment

Treating high blood pressure as soon as the condition is diagnosed, is very important, to keep the condition from worsening. In case high blood pressure is not controlled immediately, it could lead to severe health problems, such as strokes, heart diseases or even death. While there are no high blood pressure cures as such, it is important for people to take medication to keep the problem from worsening. The high blood pressure treatment options adopted are incomplete, without following a proper diet, as a person’s eating habits play a very important role in blood pressure management. In addition to high blood pressure diet treatment, people also need to follow an exercise routine, which can help reduce high blood pressure naturally. Moreover, there are several home remedies and herbs for high blood pressure too, which can be very effective in controlling the problem and have fewer side effects, as compared to conventional medication.

The medication used, for treating high blood pressure include thiazide diuretics, alpha blockers, ACE inhibitors, alpha beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, central acting agents, beta blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, vasodilators and renin inhibitors. It is absolutely essential for people to make sure that they take the medication exactly as recommended by the doctor.

One of the most effective ways to reduce high blood pressure naturally is to follow a diet that comprises of healthy foods. Health experts advise people to follow a DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension), which can be described as a high blood pressure diet treatment. Recommendations of a DASH diet include:

• Reducing the intake of processed meats, fried food, junk, sweets and sodium
• Increasing consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, skinless poultry, low fat dairy products and lean meat.
• Limiting the amount of salt used in cooking
• Avoiding canned food, condiments, sauces and pickles

Effective herbs for high blood pressure include garlic, celery, cinnamon, valerian, hawthorn, turmeric, Gingko Biloba, olive leaves, ginger, chrysanthemum and dandelion. Lifestyle changes to relieve stress, like yoga, meditation, massage therapy and other relaxation techniques can also help reduce high blood pressure. People are advised to walk for at least half an hour a day or engage in other forms of exercise to reduce their blood pressure.

Self-treatment of this condition should be strictly avoided as it could be quite harmful. However, there are certain potential high blood pressure treatment side effects that people should be aware of, such as weakness, sleeping problems, rash, leg cramps, dizziness, and so on.

High Blood Pressure Causes

As soon as people realize that they or a family member has hypertension, they look for resources that can help them learn about the reasons for high blood pressure. In fact, it is important for all people to known what the main causes of high blood pressure are, so that care can be taken to avoid the condition.

What Are The Causes Of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is one of the problems seen in most elderly people, as it is a part of the aging process. However, in many people there could be specific causes of high blood pressure too. It is therefore necessary to know exactly what are the causes of high blood pressure, and not simply assume different possibilities. Some of the most common causes of high blood pressure in men include stress, hectic lifestyles, obesity, unhealthy eating habits and family history. At times, men could suffer from this problem, because of other health conditions too, like kidney problems, defective blood vessels, and tumors in the gland.

The causes of high blood pressure in women are almost the same as those in men; however, women who are on birth control pills, or those who are pregnant are also at a high risk of developing blood pressure problems. Some of the most common causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy include elevated anxiety, stress, hormonal changes, use of certain medication and so on.

There are many people who notice that their blood pressure goes up, mainly during the night. Some of the causes of high blood pressure at night could include medical conditions such as restless leg syndrome.

Submitted on January 16, 2014