Diet for people with high blood pressure

Blood carrying oxygen and nutrients is transported from the heart to the different parts of the body, via blood vessels called arteries. The pumping of the human heart provides the pressure required for blood flow. The pressure exerted by the blood onto the walls of the arteries is called blood pressure. The heart beats around 60-70 times a minute (at rest), pumping out blood into the arteries. Blood pressure is recorded to be the highest when the heart beats to pump blood into the arteries. This highest recorded blood pressure is called systolic pressure. Further, the heart’s period of rest between two consecutive beats is recorded as the lowest blood pressure level, which is termed as diastolic pressure.

Normal Blood Pressure Levels

Blood pressure is always recorded in terms of systolic and diastolic pressure. The normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 mm of Hg, wherein 120 is systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic pressure. The blood pressure figures are written one above the other, as numerator and denominator, wherein the numerator signifies the systole and the denominator signifies the diastolic pressure. They are also written one before the other, separated by a slash (120/80 mm of Hg).

Blood pressure varies during the day and is the lowest while one sleeps and rises when the person wakes up. Moreover, blood pressure rises when one is nervous, active or excited. For most of the waking hours, the blood pressure is recorded as an average of 120/80 mm of Hg. When the blood pressure level reaches 140/90 or higher, it is called high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood pressure implies that the heart is working harder to pump blood, thereby increasing the chances of heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems.

Normal Blood Pressure in Women

A blood pressure below 120/80 is regarded as normal blood pressure reading in women, according to the American Heart Association. A range of 120-139/80-89 mm of Hg is regarded as pre-hypertensive zone, which can be brought to a normal level with lifestyle modification. Regular exercise, low sodium- high blood pressure diet, etc. can help prevent the blood pressure level from entering the hypertensive zone. Once the blood pressure levels exceed 140/90, aggressive treatment is required. Often women are considered to be less likely to develop high blood pressure as compared to men. Several studies have revealed that women develop high blood pressure less frequently than men. It is believed that factors such as estrogen protect women from developing such a condition. However, this belief is only partly true.

Women below a certain age group tend to develop high blood pressure less frequently than men, due to the estrogen levels in the body. However, the fact is that as women grow older, the protective effects of estrogen decrease and by the retirement years, both men and women share the same amount of risk. Studies reveal that beyond the age of 50, one out of every two women develop hypertension. Research has linked high blood reading to birth control pills. Moreover, studies reveal that smoking amplifies the link. Women on oral contraceptives should quit smoking and have their blood pressure checked regularly. On the other hand, pregnant women can also develop high blood pressure such as gestational hypertension. In this condition, treatment is needed to attain the normal blood pressure rate, so as to avoid problems for the mother and baby. Moreover, during the menopausal stage, levels of estrogen drop significantly, thereby spearheading the risk of elevated blood pressure levels.

Hypertension is often called a ‘silent killer’, since it shows no symptoms for a long time. Often people do not realize when their blood pressure levels have exceeded the normal blood pressure levels. If this condition is left untreated, the chances of kidney damage, heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases increases drastically. Women with both diabetes and hypertension are at a greater risk of heart attack and kidney damage. An active and healthy lifestyle will help maintain normal blood pressure in women.

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