Introduction
High blood pressure is a serious health condition that can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Unfortunately, many people ignore the warning signs of high blood pressure, which can be subtle and easy to miss. In this article, we will discuss the common symptoms of high blood pressure and how to make dietary changes to help manage it. We will also provide tips on what to eat and what to avoid to help keep your blood pressure in check. By making the right dietary choices, you can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure and its associated health complications.
Doctors Warn That These High Blood Pressure Symptoms are Usually Ignored
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that can lead to a number of health complications. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they have high blood pressure until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of high blood pressure and to take action if you experience any of them.
The most common symptom of high blood pressure is a persistent headache. This can range from a mild ache to a severe throbbing sensation. Other symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away.
High blood pressure can also cause fatigue, nausea, and confusion. If you’re feeling unusually tired or have difficulty concentrating, it could be a sign of high blood pressure. Additionally, some people experience nosebleeds, ringing in the ears, and irregular heartbeats.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away. High blood pressure can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication, but it’s important to catch it early. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and reducing stress can all help to lower your blood pressure.
Eat This Not That
If you’re looking to lower your blood pressure, it’s important to make healthy food choices. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help to reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Additionally, limiting your intake of processed foods, sugar, and sodium can help to keep your blood pressure in check.
It’s also important to limit your alcohol intake. Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of developing hypertension. If you’re looking to reduce your risk of high blood pressure, it’s best to stick to the recommended guidelines of no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
High blood pressure is a serious health condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke. “Common causes of heart failure are high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary artery disease. These often coexist,” says Dr. David Majure, medical director of the Heart Transplant Service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries, and high blood pressure can damage the arteries and increase the workload of the heart and blood vessels. As time goes on, the heart may start to fail and not pump as effectively as it did in the past.” Here are five signs of high blood pressure you should never ignore. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Vision issues could be a sign of high blood pressure, experts warn. “We can see changes due to vascular conditions caused by diabetes or hypertension,” says Dr. William White, an optometrist with Baylor Scott & White Health in Temple, Texas. “The blood vessels in the retina can become a little more stiff and hardened. They’ll push on each other and cross, like two hoses in a confined space. When it gets really bad, we’ll see some of the blood vessels start to leak, we’ll see some hemorrhaging. And that can cause a whole range of vision issues.”
Unchecked stress can lead to high blood pressure. “Managing hypertension (stress) is really 70% lifestyle and 30% medications,” says preventive cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD. “I always talk to patients about the impact of sleep on heart health, and how stress impacts sleep. If stress and anxiety are leading to a lot of blood pressure elevation, we can try medications called beta-blockers. They’re not the first line of treatment for blood pressure in most people, but they can be helpful for people with significant stress and anxiety because they decrease your sympathetic nervous system activity and slow down your heart rate in stressful situations.”
Binge drinking is strongly linked to high blood pressure, doctors say. “If people drink in excess, alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure,” says Dr. Nisha Jhalani, director of clinical and educational services at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “Binge drinking can also cause atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm). I’m not saying that it’s necessary to live a stringent life. What’s key to remember is that everything is fine in moderation, alcohol included.”
Having sleep issues is linked to high blood pressure. “The less you sleep, the higher your blood pressure may go,” says Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD. “People who sleep six hours or less may have steeper increases in blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, not sleeping well may make your blood pressure worse.”
Difficulty breathing could be a sign of high blood pressure. “That is the most common presenting symptom,” says Vallerie McLaughlin, MD, director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. “[It’s because] the right side of the heart is having trouble pushing blood flow through the lungs — and it’s not getting to the left side of the heart and body. It puts strain on the right side of the heart, which is not used to pushing against the high pressure.”
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