BLOOD PRESSURE

                           

This is widely known as the ‘silent killer’, because its outward symptoms are so difficult to detect. It often comes in middle age, and likely to effect more men then premenopausal women because of hormonal differences. High blood pressure affects between 15 and 30 percent of the adult population of most Western Countries As people age, their hearts have to work harder as pump blood around the body. Hypertension occurs as a result of increased resistance to blood flow of the small blood vessels, which have high blood pressure as caused by the arterioles losing their ability to relax normally.

Drugs can be used to dilate them; however these may have side effects and they can also interfere with the body’s effective use of nutrients. Aside from medication, a change to a healthy well balanced diet which in low in one should take regularly. Some heavy drinkers and overweight people suffering from high blood pressure

Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. Anyone over 40 should be checked out every two years, especially if there is a family history of high blood pressure if you do not have a blood pressure problem, follow your doctor’s advice’ adopts the general dietary advice and tries to reduce your stress level.

TO HELP REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE

v  Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

v  Oily fish

v  Eating at least five daily portions of fruit and vegetables (especially garlic and celery) also helps to lower blood pressure.

AVOID:

v  Salty foods and added salt.

v  Pickled foods

v  Excessive amount of alcohol

BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS

When measuring blood pressure expressed in millimeters o f mercury-two reading are taken

One, the systolic, is the pressure other, the heart relapses

Systolic pressure is given first; a reading of 120/80 (an average reading for a fit young person) means a systolic pressure of 120 mm and a diastolic pressure of 80mm. A fit middle age person might have a reading of 135/90 between 140/90 and 160/110 indicates mild hypertension. Depending on an individual’s medical history, a blood pressure reading as low as 95/60 can still seen as healthy.