Every time you visit your drug store, you might have noticed the blood pressure machines in waiting areas for people to measure their pressure levels? We may just consider it as a part of simple health check-up routine but do you know blood pressure is one of the most important indicators of health?
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates approximately 40 percent of people worldwide have raised blood pressure. Hypertension is considered a significant risk factor for stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. Altogether 55 percent of the 17 million annual deaths related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is linked to complications from high blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 or lower.
The causal link between hypertension and sleep
Sleep problems or disorders can impact the quality or quantity of sleep. Any deterioration in sleep quality or quantity may be associated with an increase in blood pressure which could be the reason in the development or poor control of hypertension. Addressing sleep disorders or sleep habits is important when considering the risk of developing hypertension or the control of pre-existent hypertension. Obstructive sleep apnea is closely associated with the development of hypertension. Shorter and longer sleep durations are associated with prevalent or incident hypertension. Sleep helps our blood to regulate stress hormones. The paucity of sleep over a considerable period of time could hurt our body’s ability to regulate stress hormones, leading to high blood pressure.
Home remedies to control hypertension
You can follow these simple ways to prevent hypertension.
Keep your weight under control: Healthy eating and regular exercise can help to keep your weight under control. Losing weight will help in better blood sugar control, better blood pressure control, decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increased levels of energy.
Follow a healthy diet: What we eat and drink affects your health. Sticking to a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet that is low in salt and fat can help you control your blood pressure. You can make sure that you are getting the right amounts of these nutrients, you need to eat and drink by looking at the right portion sizes. You check the information from the Nutrition’s label.
Limit your sodium intake: Sodium is an electrolyte that is needed for proper nerve and muscle function and it also helps balance the fluids in the body. As sodium and fluid build up in our tissues and bloodstream, our blood pressure rises. High blood pressure, our heart must work harder, causing it to become weak and enlarged. Most of the sodium we eat is in the form of salt. It may be salt that we add at the table or salt added to the processed foods we consume.
Get regular exercise: Exercise is a great way to burn fat. It also helps to strengthen muscles. Exercise can also reduce depression and anxiety as well as improve your psychological well-being. A good diet and a regular exercise regime can help to keep hypertension under control.
Don’t let stress build up: When we are in a stressful situation our body produces a surge of hormones which cause our blood pressure to shoot up and beat faster. Reacting to stress in unhealthy ways can, therefore, increase the risk of high blood pressure and cardiac arrests.
Monitor your blood pressure at home
Home monitoring of blood pressure can help you to keep your blood pressure under control. It will help you understand that your lifestyle changes are working, and alert you and your doctor to potential health complications. Talk to your physician about home monitoring before you get started. Use Dozee to monitor your sleep patterns from the comfort of your home. To know more about Dozee, call us at 8884436933.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Dozee is not a medical device. It is not designed or intended for use in diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disorder or illness.
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079214000240
