Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood flowing in the blood vessels. Blood vessels carry blood pumped by the heart to all parts of the body. Proper supply of blood requires an optimum level of blood pressure and anything above or below this level is a cause of concern. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, where 120 is systolic pressure and 80 is diastolic. Blood pressure measuring 130-139/80-89 mmHg is considered as the first stage of hypertension, and pressures above 140/90 mmHg are considered as the second stage of hypertension. Pressure above 180/120 warrants immediate medical treatment.
Prolonged hypertension results in thickening of the blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis). Other health complications caused by hypertension are a stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. How to lower your blood pressure? This is an important question faced by those affected by hypertension. Read on to understand the causes of high blood pressure and ways to control high blood pressure.
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is classified as primary and secondary hypertension. Primary or essential hypertension develops over time with no particular cause, whereas secondary hypertension occurs rapidly and becomes more severe than primary hypertension.
Although the exact pressure cause of high blood pressure is not known, several risk factors are attributed to hypertension. When looking for information on how to lower your blood pressure, the common causes of hypertension should be understood first:
Other factors include
Ways to control high blood pressure
Prolonged hypertension paves way for life-threatening health conditions. When considering how to lower your blood pressure, the underlying cause of high blood pressure should also be kept in mind. Although medication is available for lowering blood pressure, a combination of medication, lifestyle and dietary changes is more effective in reducing and maintaining blood pressure.
Here are a few tips on how to lower your blood pressure:
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is essential for the effective functioning of the heart and other organs. Keeping a watch on the various risk factors holds the key to how to lower your blood pressure. Avoiding the risk factors and consuming medication (if required) helps in lowering blood pressure and controlling it.
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