Hypertension (high blood pressure) was not so common even a few decades ago. However, these days, one out of five people suffers from this deadly disorder. So what has contributed to this alarming rise in the number of hypertension patients? Believe it or not, it has been the changing lifestyle habits. Unfortunately, poor lifestyle practices continue to push people into hypertension. If you find yourself in the same boat presently, take a look at this article. Here we tell you how you can change a few habits and bring your high blood pressure under control.
Controllable lifestyle factors that cause hypertension
1. Smoking
Tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine, upon entering the body, pushes your BP up. It also increases the heart rate and obstructs the arteries. Smoking is extremely dangerous and is directly responsible for hypertension.
2. Drinking
An occasional drink is fine, but if you consume too much alcohol, your hypertension increases. When alcohol enters your blood stream, it makes the blood pressure to shoot up. So avoid drinking heavily and that too on a regular basis.
3. Stress
Stress is a modern day hazard. Sadly, many people are affected by stress. Stressful situations make the body release hormones in large quantities that temporarily make the BP shoot up as the heart beats at a much faster rate. Regular bouts of stress result in prolonged periods of hypertension which in turn impact the health of the heart.
4. Obesity
Obesity, or excessive weight gain, is another contributing lifestyle factor that causes hypertension. Obesity makes the body retain high amounts of water and also increases its sodium content. Both these factors in turn increase the blood pressure, resulting in severe hypertension. So keep a tab on your weight if you suffer from this disorder.
5. Lack of sleep
Irregular sleep patterns can also cause hypertension. When you don’t get sufficient sleep, your body cannot relax properly. The blood vessels and arteries are always in a hyper state and this increases the blood pressure. It therefore is very important for you to get a good night’s sleep every day.
6. Lack of exercise
Exercising goes a long way in stabilizing the blood pressure. Exercising controls your weight, keeps you relaxed, maintains a healthy heart rate and helps you sleep well at night. All these factors help reduce your BP. Lack of exercising is therefore a lifestyle habit that causes hypertension.
Mickey Mehta, a leading health and fitness instructor, says, “Exercise boosts metabolism, helps burn body fat and oxygenates your cells.”
7. Poor food habits
Consuming foods high in oil and sodium may shoot up your blood pressure. Many people have their poor eating habits to blame for their hypertension. Mehta adds, “Weight loss programs will always work better when both diet and exercises are combined well.” So monitor your diet and you can control your increasing blood pressure.
Now that you know more about the common lifestyle factors that contribute to hypertension, you must make a serious attempt to control these. A few small changes in your day-to-day life can go a long way in helping you stay fit. Hypertension is a silent killer that attacks from within. So steer clear of this deadly disease by making some easy changes to your lifestyle.
