High blood pressure is a condition when the blood pressure in our veins becomes higher than normal. Blood pressure should be 120/80 mmHg, but when it becomes 140/90 mmHg or more then it is considered as high BP.
There can be many reasons behind this like unhealthy eating habits, excessive salt intake, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, lack of sleep and lack of physical activity. It slowly works like a silent killer because its symptoms are not very obvious in the initial period. If it is not taken care of in time, it can become the cause of serious health problems.
Continuously increased blood pressure puts pressure on the walls of the veins, due to which they can become weak and hard. Due to this, blood flow is disrupted and the organs do not get adequate oxygen and nutrition. Gradually it affects the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. High BP puts more pressure on the heart, due to which the heartbeat can become irregular and the risk of heart failure also increases. If this condition persists for a long time, fat may accumulate in the veins and cause blockage. Apart from this, the nerves of the eyes can also become weak and cause vision loss. That means high BP gradually damages the body from within.
Which diseases are at risk due to high BP?
Dr. Ajit Jain in the Cardiology Department at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. It is said that high blood pressure can cause many serious diseases. The biggest impact is on the heart. Due to this, the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke increases manifold. Due to high BP, the nerves of the brain can burst, which can lead to conditions like brain stroke or paralysis. Similarly, it also has a deep impact on the kidneys, because continuous increased pressure damages the nerves of the kidneys and can gradually cause kidney failure.
High BP can cause risk of blindness by damaging the nerves of the retina of the eyes. Not only this, it also causes diseases like atherosclerosis by narrowing the veins. High BP in pregnant women increases the risk of pre-eclampsia, which can be risky for both mother and child. This is why it is very dangerous to take high BP lightly.
How to protect?
Reduce salt intake and take a healthy diet.
Exercise daily and keep your weight under control.
To avoid stress, adopt yoga, meditation or relaxation.
Do not smoke and consume alcohol.
Get enough sleep. And keep the time of sleeping and waking up regular.
Keep getting your blood pressure checked from time to time.