High blood pressure or World Hypertension Day (WHD) will be observed across the globe and in Pakistan today Wednesday. It should be mentioned here that the World Hypertension Day is celebrated to increase awareness about abnormally high blood pressure as the primary risk factor not only for cardiovascular diseases like a heart attacks, but for many other health conditions such as stroke, kidney problems, vision loss and dementia.
Hypertension is a common condition in which your normal or average blood pressure is measured to be higher than what is considered standard for your age/condition. The most common symptoms of hypertension are fatigue, nosebleed, chest pain, blood in urine, vision problem, irregular heartbeat, severe headache and difficulty in breathing.
Remember, only a qualified healthcare practitioner can diagnose hypertension after proper examination and consultation with your active participation in monitoring your blood pressure. Though hypertension in most cases is not curable, it is manageable through lifestyle modifications and in most cases through some medications. Here are some suggested lifestyle modifications; consult with an expert before implementing these in your daily life.
Maintain a healthy weight, increase daily physical activity, quit smoking and any other form of tobacco intake, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet and reduce added salt in your meals.—INP
