This day is Celebrated on May 17 th.

We are all under pressure because of Covid-19,adding to our blood pressure.

The World Hypertension League (WHL) has announced that it will postpone the celebration of World Hypertension Day (WHD) 2020 until October 17, 2020, due to global COVID-19 pandemic. World Hypertension Day

The expanded theme for World Hypertension Day is Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer, with a goal of increasing high blood pressure (BP) awareness in all populations around the world.

It’s a 6.5 minute read.

Have you ever checked your BP ( blood pressure ) ?

If not,first thing you do is to see a physician and get checked.

“Life is not merely being alive, but being well”. Marcus Valerius Martialis

Belonging to the medical profession, I am happy if I can bring awareness about common health problems.

Why is knowledge about Hypertension important?

Because high blood pressure is a ‘Silent Killer‘.

The medical term used for High Blood Pressure is ‘Hypertension’

What do I mean by the silent killer?

Most of you with Hypertension have no symptoms and when the blood pressure goes up. you are not even aware.

High BP develops gradually and over time. If you are careless, by the time you realize you would have developed one of these complications, hence it is said to be a silent killer.

• Stroke,
• Heart attack
• Kidney failure
• Vision loss
• Sexual dysfunction

High BP can not be cured. It can be managed through lifestyle changes and medications as per your doctor’s advice.

Managing blood pressure is a lifelong commitment and a test of your willpower.

There are many reasons why one can develop Blood Pressure, ( Please consult your Doctor )

‘Life Style’ is one of them and I am limiting my discussion to this aspect.

What is lifestyle?

Wikipedia defines “Lifestyle as the interests, opinions, behaviours, and behavioural orientations of an individual, group, or culture”

Are you under pressure, based on your lifestyle philosophy?

I am suggesting some of your lifestyle aspects which can elevate your Blood pressure.

1. Reacting to each and every incident that happens to you.Your response & if your reaction is more than what is required, leading to stress.

2. Tension, anxiety, imaginary worries, thinking of the future, stress… out of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.

3. Smoking & Drinking habits-You indulge in smoking or drinking because you are under stress and you think these habits make you forget the problem and in the process, you get addicted and even hooked.

4. Being Overweight- the result of Eating habits/physical activity.

Obesity happens over time. Because of eating too much ( wrong foods ) and at the same time lacking physical activity.

you are stressed because of friends and colleagues making fun of your body. Not just that, you also have to face the health-related complications arising from being overweight.

I shall discuss each in detail

1. Stress

“Stress is thrash of modern life,we all generate it but if you don’t dispose it properly,it will pile up and overtake your life” Danzae pace

By definition, stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from demanding circumstances.

Stress affects all of us. Mild stress is OK since it makes you get ready to solve your problems. But chronic stress affects health which is irreversible.

When you are stressed, your body reacts in flight or fight mode, because stress hormones are produced.

The problem with stress hormones is that your body responds by increasing your blood pressure to pump blood to the body’s muscles so that the body is in a position to react to the situation.

Our bodies can easily deal with mild degrees of stress. However, chronic stress and the consequence of these stress hormones lead to Hypertension.

Stress triggers highly vary from one individual to another and it is difficult to gauge how mildly or strongly you react to the situation. Stress can affect you emotionally, and physically and even your behaviour may change.
Solution– Never react to the situation immediately. Understand that you can’t control everything that happens to you. Think for a while and make sincere attempts to find an alternative or look into the problem from a different perspective. Exercise regularly and stay positive.

2. Smoking

“Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world.I know because I’ve done it thousands of times”. Mark Twain

Jokes apart, you all know that smoking is bad for the lungs and can lead to lung cancer. Are you aware that it can also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease?

Nicotine is the culprit. It increases your heart rate, narrows the blood vessels by hardening its walls and thus increases your blood pressure.
Solution-Just quit smoking. Don’t ask me how and when.

” you are greater than your addiction “. Nasia Davis

3. Drinking

” Alcohol,what is that ? It’s not in my Vodkabulary,but let me check in Whiskypedia. Unknown

On a lighter note, it is said alcohol is the cause and also the solution- to all your problems.

You are aware that alcohol causes liver and digestive problems. You will be shocked to know that chronic consumption leads to hypertension.

Nevertheless, people take things easy in alcohol matters and when questioned about high consumption they come out with funny explanations.

” In beer there is freedom,in wine there is health,in cognac there is power and in water there is bacteria “. Unknown

Alcohol contains calories that contribute to weight gain which is a risk factor for high blood pressure. Alcohol formula itself triggers hypertension.

Solution-Just stop drinking. The quicker the decision is made better for everyone around you.

4. Obesity

“Obesity Is not because it runs in the family !!! It is because no one runs in the family !!” unknown

Though there are many causes for obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and high calorie/fat food intake are major reasons. When we eat junk food and don’t exercise we get fat.

Solution-Regular physical activity, 60 to 90 minutes of moderate activity and dietary modifications under a nutritionist’s guidance helps you to keep a check on your weight

Thank you for your patience in reaching this point.

Please share your views on how not to succumb to the lifestyle habits.

My other health-related posts

Please share your views.

A hair-raising tail

The closer…the better

A good laugh & a long sleep are the best cure in the Doctor’sbook-Irish Proverb

Forgotten Hygiene

This is something we have been doing wrong all along!

Thank you. Namaste  🙏🙏🙏

Philosophy Through Photography

References

World Hypertension day

How smoking affects blood pressure

High Blood pressures from Alcohol consumption

Obesity & Blood Pressure

Disclaimer– The contents of the post are for information purposes only, and are not intended to be professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please take the advice of your physician regarding hypertension.