Millions of people around the world are suffering from high blood pressure. However, it can be hard to spot.High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when there is a lot of stress on blood vessels and organs. An unhealthy diet and exercise also contribute to high blood pressure. Here are the warning signs of high blood pressure or hypertension you need to be aware of.
One of the most common signs of high blood pressure is a headache. If you are someone who frequently experiences painful headaches, you may be at risk of the condition. Even though headaches are common for most people, frequent ones that are extremely painful may be a sign you have hypertension. Dizziness, stomach ache and nosebleeds are also common indicators of high blood pressure.
"You may want to see your GP if you get a combination of any of these symptoms frequently. They may indicate high blood pressure or something else that needs to be treated," Bupa, an international healthcare group, told a news portal. Adding, "High blood pressure has few obvious symptoms. But it can be identified by regular checks and treated through changes to your lifestyle as well as medication."
However, you could also experience a serious form of high blood pressure that becomes a hypertensive emergency - when the blood pressure has reached extremely high levels and can cause permanent damage. In this case watch out for difficulty speaking, coughing up blood, muscle tremors and tingling feelings.
In some cases, the warning signs can be hard to detect and regular check-ups are the only way to determine your health status."A significant majority of people with high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms and aren’t aware of their condition," Bupa told a news portal. Adding, "Sometimes high blood pressure is caused by another health problem you already have. But most of the time there’s no obvious cause."
When it comes to diet, reduce the amount of salt you consume to reduce your chances of developing the condition. The recommended intake for salt is six grams per day. That comes down to just a teaspoon's worth. 150 minutes of exercise per week can also help protect you against the condition.
Other natural ways you can reduce your chances of developing the condition is by consuming more potassium-rich foods and less alcohol and coffee.
