'Living With Hypertension' : Compilations that'll leave you better informed.

With a lot of people living with hypertension nationwide, this series would be incomplete without this part, on treating and managing hypertension. 

 
If you haven't read the previous parts on what hypertension is, and what causes hypertension, just click the links to go there. 

 
Like most of us already know, hypertension is a very common medical condition, occurring mostly among middle aged and elderly adults, and is associated with aging. 

It can also be secondary, to a pre-existing illness. 

 
In the previous part, I mentioned that hypertension is not a death sentence, especially if it's managed properly. 

 
So, in this post I'll be explaining 'managing and treating hypertension. 

 
Hypertension, can be managed and treated by either lifestyle changes, drug therapy or a combination of both. 

 
However, in this post, I'll be dwelling on lifestyle modifications, that improve and sustain a good quality of life. 

 
Lifestyle modifications work to blower blood pressure by reducing stress on the heart, strengthening its ability to cope with pressure, and also eliminates the causes of an initial rise in blood pressure. They have long term benefits, keeping us healthy. 

 
So, 

 
These are some of the lifestyle changes you can effect to keep hypertension behind bars. 

 
•Eating Less Salt 

 
Salt is composed of sodium chloride crystals, and eating excess salt works on the kidneys to prevent them from reabsorbing enough water, thereby making our bodies to hold on to more water. 

 
This puts added pressure on blood arteries, and in turn, on the kidney.
Its not uncommon to add some more salt to our cooking, but we ought to conscious of our salt levels. 

 
Eating less salt, relieves your body of the unnecessary strain, and can strongly help to prevent a bad case of hypertension. 

 
•Being physically active 

 
A lot of us have a low level of physical activity. We just go about our daily businesses, sitting long hours at work or in front of the TV. 

  

Being physically active, makes your heart stronger. So, physically people are at a lower risk of being hypertensive. 

More so, being physically active can help minimize the impacts of hypertension due to aging. 

 
•Cutting down on junk food 

 
The statistics on the rate of consumption of junk food are at alarming figures. 

 
Just because you have the money to indulge yourself in careless eating, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

 
Junk food does more damage than good, and most have too much cholesterol and fat content. 

 
Our bodies store any unneeded fat as an energy reserve and for insulation, but when it gets too much the extra load puts unnecessary strain on the heart and arteries. 

 
Cutting down on those yummy burgers and chips and the like, will save you a lot of blood pressure and heart problems in the future! 

 
•Limit the 'bottle' count 

 
Alcohol consumption is a way of life in society. Unfortunately, people drink a little too much, and the hazards of excessive alcohol intake, are not worth their bottles. 

 
Alcohol has a short lived effect on blood pressure, which normalizes in a few hours to a few days, but constantly drinking will keep your blood pressure up! 

 
You don't want that, so limit the amount of alcohol you consume. 

 
•Stop smoking 

 
Cliché... 

Anything that can can be 'puffed' is bad for your lungs and heart. 

 
Tobacco and the likes, put the heart under stress, and irritate the linings of the lungs and respiratory tract, leading to different infections and long term complications. 

 
Virtually every organ problem is possible with smoking, and each one can lead to another. 

 
Cutting down on cigarette rounds, can help start your healing process, and it has positive effects on blood pressure.

 
However, 

 
when a combination of the above and other related lifestyle changes isn't enough to fix hypertensive problems, then drug therapy is needed. 

 
A friend and colleague of mine, Banjo Babatunde, explained in this post, how each of these classes of hypertensive drugs work to lower blood pressure. 

 
We don't have to suffer unnecessarily, when we can take measures that matter.
Help friends and family know more about this, by talking about it over dinner, and sharing on Facebook and twitter.

You'll be doing a lot of good. 

 
What's your take on this topic? Share your views via commentary. 

 
Author 

B.pharm candidate Koyejo Sowunmi is a self proclaimed funny boy, with a good sense of humor. Talk to him on Twitter?