You May Be Suffering From High Blood Pressure And Don’t Know It - High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in the developed world, but many people have no idea they are suffering from the condition, experts say.
The symptoms are pretty vague – headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, chest pain – and only appear when indicators get very high.
“All these symptoms can, of course, also have other causes,” says Peter Trenkwalder of the German High Pressure League.
Men aged 25-35 are especially likely to be unaware that they are suffering from the condition.
“They rarely go to the doctor, and usually only when things get very bad,” Trenkwalder notes. As a result, their blood pressure is rarely checked.
However, many women are often surprised to be diagnosed with high blood pressure too.
Young women tend to have lower blood pressure, but hormonal changes can lead to an increase after the menopause.
What can you do to prevent high blood pressure?
“First of all, you should get enough exercise: more than 150 minutes a week,” Trenkwalder says.
That could include jogging or walking, but even climbing stairs or walking to the bus stop will help, the expert says.
Beyond that, patients should keep their body weight stable, ideally with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23-27.
Being slightly overweight is not a problem, but a BMI of more than 30 or too much belly fat will increase blood pressure.
A healthy diet with plenty of fresh food is also important. “Lots of vegetables, lots of fish, and less processed meat, cheese and pre-cooked food,” Trenkwalder recommends.
A low-salt diet will also help most patients.
It’s also important to make time to relax – taking a break every now and then is good for both your mental and physical health.
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