Blood Pressure Kyu Badhta Hai: What is blood pressure? Why does blood pressure increase? Read here the causes of high blood pressure, initial symptoms, easy prevention measures and important tips to keep BP under control.
High BP Symptoms: Blood pressure is the pressure with which our heart circulates blood through the arteries throughout the body. It is measured in 2 ways. Systolic (top number): When the heart pumps blood. Diastolic (bottom number) – when the heart is at rest. If this pressure remains higher than normal for a long time, then it is called high blood pressure (Hypertension).
Why does blood pressure increase?
1. Eating too much salt is one of the biggest reasons
The sodium present in salt retains water in the body. This increases the amount of blood and increases the pressure on the arteries. For example: If a person eats too much chips, namkeen, pickles and packet snacks every day, then after some time his blood pressure may increase.
2. Stress can also increase BP
When we are stressed, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones make the heart beat faster and blood pressure increases. For example, office pressure, exam tension or family tension increases the BP of many people.
3. More reasons and less physical activities
If you are overweight, the heart has to work harder to supply blood to the body. This is the reason why overweight people are more at risk of high BP. For example, people who sit for hours and do not do yoga regularly are more at risk.
4. Smoking and alcohol
Nicotine present in cigarettes reduces blood intoxication. Drinking too much alcohol can also increase blood pressure over time.
5. Age and family history
With increasing age the arteries start becoming hard. If a parent or sibling in the family has high BP, the risk may also increase.
6. Lack of sleep can also be the reason
Sleeping less every day or having frequent sleep disturbances can also be a sign of increased blood pressure. For example, if a person sleeps only 4-5 hours every day, then there is a risk of his BP increasing in the long run.
What are the early signs of high blood pressure?
High BP is also called a silent killer, because many people do not show any symptoms for a long time. These signs are seen in some people…
- Headache
- Dizziness
- blurred vision
- breathlessness
- chest heaviness
- bleeding nose
How to control blood pressure?
- Take salt in limit.
- Walk or do yoga for at least 30 minutes every day.
- Eat more fruits, green vegetables and whole grains.
- Stay away from smoking and alcohol.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- To reduce stress, do yoga, meditation or deep breathing.
- Do not stop BP medicine without doctor’s advice.
Some important data regarding blood pressure
- More than 1.3 billion people in the world are suffering from high BP.
- According to WHO, about 1 in every 2 people (about 46% of the people) are not aware that their blood pressure has increased.
- Why is blood pressure called silent killer? Many people do not show any clear symptoms for years, during which time the heart, kidneys, eyes and brain can be damaged.
- Take only 5 grams of salt. WHO recommends less than 5 grams (about a teaspoon) of salt per day for a healthy adult.
Content Sources: World Health Organization, American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Indian Council of Medical Research