Your being hypertensive could be a result of the inherent risk factors. Risk factors are those factors which make you predisposed to a particular disease. At the same time there are certain risk factors that are certainly within your control and you can keep a check on those. There are several changes that you can go ahead and make to your lifestyle, diet and exercise regime to keep your blood pressure in check.
The risk factors that you can’t control are
- Family history: High blood pressure runs in some families due to their DNA. If either of your parents had high blood pressure, a male relative died before 55 of an heart attack, or a female relative at the age of 65 it shows that you do have hypertensive genes in your blood.
- Gender: If you are a male over 50 and a woman post menopause you have hormones that might play a role in making you hypertensive.
- Age: The older we get more is the likelihood of us getting hypertension as our arteries narrow with age and wear and tear and our ability to remain active diminish.
The positive side to this is that there are risk factors that are known of and within your control to take a note of. These factors are:
- Look at what you eat and you will notice if you are putting yourself in the hypertensive spotlight. More of salt, processed foods, fried and oily stuff and junk food is a sure shot way of leading you up the hypertensive ladder. Note what you put on your plate. Fill it with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nature’s bounty and you will remain hypertensive free for a life time. Do not reach for too many meat or fat laden dairy products too.
- If you use any tobacco related products such as cigarettes, cigars, snuff or chew tobacco you are putting yourself at a risk of elevating your hypertension levels.
- How sedentary is your lifestyle. If you are a couch potato and find yourself seated most of the time at home or work then you certainly do need to get some exercise and activity into your life.
- Look at your weighing scales. If they tell you that you are overweight by about 15 pounds compared to your body frame then you are at a risk of being hypertensive. Reduce your weight and you will notice a difference right away.
- Lastly, are your stress levels. If you find yourself becoming anxious, nervous and on tenterhooks all the time then there is a likelihood of you raising your blood pressure levels without realizing it. Learn to practice meditation and deep breathing exercises. Remain happy and surround yourself with friends. People who are known to be depressed and worried are the kinds who are victims of hypertension.
- Keep a check on the kind of personality that you are. Do not be overly ambitious and aggressive all the time. People who are that will have elevated levels of hypertension without even knowing of it. Learn to enjoy yourself in the journey of life and to let go of things at times.