How to tackle the issue of hypertension among youngsters
We often think that hypertension or high blood pressure is a health issue that occurs as one grows old but that isn’t the truth. Sometimes, even those belonging to the age group of 20-30 may also encounter the problem of high blood pressure. Of course, the reasons to develop hypertension in the 2nd or 3rd decade of life are different. But nowadays because of the modern lifestyle, essential hypertension is seen in the younger population.
What is high blood pressure?
When your blood pressure measurement is on three occasions more than
140/90, then your doctor will label you as a high blood pressure
patient.
The causes As cardio-thoracic surgeon shares, lack of sleep, stress, drug abuse, poor eating habits, obesity, smoking, alcohol, suffering from a kidney or heart disease, hyperthyroidism, having sodium-rich foods, and not exercising enough are some of the reasons behind the occurrence of hypertension. “There is an alarming trend of hypertension that is seen in youngsters. Uncontrolled hypertension is linked to cardiac, ophthalmic, kidney, and brain problems in later life. Essential hypertension is when no cause is detected,” says the Dr .
The symptoms
Symptoms of high blood pressure are headache (occipital), left shoulder pain sometimes back pain. Some people feel heaviness in the chest or back. Few people with high blood pressure will go unnoticed.How to take control of your blood pressure?
As the Dr. suggests:
- Medications form the first line of treatment and one should take medications on time. Even if it normalises, DO NOT stop medications.
- With lifestyle modifications, we can reduce blood pressure. One has to ensure that he/she is eating a well-balanced diet that consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and pulses. The calorie intake needs to be reduced. Try to cut down on fatty foods. So, one will have to avoid colas, sodas, sweets, candies, juices, desserts, biscuits, pastries, bread, and cakes, and monitor your salt intake. Take the help of an expert regarding the right amount of salt that you need to have.
- Exercise daily without fail. Doing so can help one lower blood pressure and maintain an optimum weight. Quitting smoking and alcohol can be helpful as they can further raise your blood pressure.
- One should try to maintain an ideal BMI as per the doctor’s suggestion and control obesity.
- One should try to de-stress by opting for relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation.