How to treat prehypertension

How to treat prehypertension

How to treat prehypertension

Everyone is aware of hypertension, however very few are aware that there is a condition called prehypertension; that precedes high blood pressure and alarms you about the onset of hypertension.

Our body keeps on giving us warnings about the onset of any particular disease. For example, if you are obese and having difficulty in performing regular activities, it indicates that there is something wrong with the functioning of some or more of your organs. Diabetes and hypertension are the two major conditions that are known to frequently inflict a person after forties. However, there are examples where young individuals also suffer from these problems.

Risks Associated with Prehypertension

Prehypertension is an indication or a warning sign that you can probably suffer from high blood pressure in the future. High blood pressure makes you vulnerable to various health risks such as coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and heart failure. Although once you get hypertension you can never be completely cured, you can continue to live a healthy life for long years by following right diet, taking regular medications and following healthy lifestyle.

In the U.S. alone more than 59 million people have been found to have prehypertension. Such patients also run the risk of getting diabetes and high cholesterol.

What should you do?

It is important to check your blood pressure regularly by a health care professional. You can also get a high quality blood pressure machine at home and regularly measure your B.P. Measuring your blood pressure twice a year even without a cause is recommended instead of waiting for your body to show symptoms of high blood pressure such as mental stress, red face, bleeding nose or headaches. Next, you should check whether you face any heart disease related risks such as diabetes, obesity, tobacco abuse, mental stress, sedentary lifestyle, abnormal cholesterol levels and more.

A good and healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of getting high blood pressure even after earlier signs indicate presence of prehypertension.

Treating Prehypertension

Prehypertension is a warning sign and hence the treatment should mostly depend upon making lifestyle changes rather than medications.

Diet

Changing your diet is the first step. Most of the caregivers recommend DASH program that involves taking less dietary sodium –less than 2,300 mg per day. For middle-aged people or even older individuals limiting sodium intake to 1500 mg is recommended. Another important change according to DASH program is reducing the consumption of processed foods and animal fat.

Weight Control

Losing weight is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of blood pressure. However, it is also the toughest goal. Hence, you should opt for healthy calorie restricted diet.

Exercise

You should make daily exercise a part of your lifestyle. Brisk walking for 45 minutes or jogging on the spot for 20 minutes can produce enormous benefits. However, you should be regular with your diet and exercise to get the desired result.

Cut down the intake of Alcohol

If you are in a habit of heavy drinking, then you should immediately cut down on your alcohol intake. Smaller drinks will not affect your pressure but excessive drinking can certainly raise your blood pressure. Limiting yourself to two drinks per day or quitting totally is the best way to reduce the chances of stroke and heart disease.

As regards to medication, research is still on to determine whether to prescribe medication to people showing pre hypertension condition or not.

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