High Blood Pressure Symptoms Causes Diet Treatment

Because it matters…Heart disease awareness

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SYMPTOMS CAUSES DIET & TREATMENT

Dr.Armughan Riaz
M.B.B.S, Dip Card
Consultant Cardiologist

 

How One Can Lower Systolic Pressure without Lowering Diastolic Pressure

How One Can Lower Systolic Pressure without Lowering Diastolic Pressure, In order to bring your systolic blood pressure with in normal range, it is also necessary to reduce stress from your life.

How One Can Lower Systolic Pressure without Lowering Diastolic Pressure

 Blood pressure is measured in two numbers; the systolic and the diastolic. Systolic number is the reading of the pressure exerted on the walls of your blood vessels when the heart is pumping. Diastolic reading is the pressure of the blood on the artery walls when the heart is between beats. People whose blood pressure is high will usually have high levels of both systolic and diastolic. However, there are some cases where a person has a high systolic level but a normal or low diastolic level. This condition is called isolated systolic hypertension and is treated by lowering the systolic without further decreasing diastolic level.

Determining the cause of isolated systolic hypertension is crucial before any dietary changes or exercise is recommended. Hence, get a thorough check up from a medical specialist. Its underlying causes may be a leaky heart valve or an overactive thyroid gland.

If your systolic hypertension is not caused by any heart condition, you can exercise to get your heart in a good condition. A stronger heart can pump more blood with less force, thus lowering the systolic level. Moderate to vigorous exercise of 30 minutes at least five times a week is recommended by the American Heart Association for a fit heart.

Your doctor can also prescribe special medicines that work at lowering systolic level without affecting the diastolic if your heart is not strong enough to perform cardio activity. Thiazide diuretics, for example Saluron and Trichlorex, and calcium antagonists such as Norvasc and Procardia are two of the best classes of drugs used for this purpose. These drugs were also recommended by a 2001 study published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. Drugs that strengthen the heart, like Digitalis, are also beneficial in isolated systolic hypertension. Such drugs toughen the heart contractions and allow the heart to exert less force to pump the same amount of blood, therefore, decreasing systolic pressure.

In order to bring your systolic blood pressure with in normal range, it is also necessary to reduce stress from your life. Your blood vessels become tensed when you are anxious, worried or irritated by something. You will know about the things that relax you. Try doing them when you are worried or tensed whether it is listening to music or taking a walk in the garden. When your body is relaxed and at peace, you blood pressure will also return to normal.

Exercise and relaxation techniques will not lower your systolic blood pressure if your diet is not changed accordingly. Base you diet on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). This approach is based on studies done at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. According to DASH, your meals should be low in sodium because it causes the body to retain fluid and makes the kidneys work harder. Resultantly, blood has more volume and the heart is forced to pump harder.

Furthermore, people who are trying to lower their systolic pressure should eat food that is rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium as these are good for maintaining blood pressure and prevent cholesterol build up in the arteries. Eat lots of fruit and vegetable, whole grains, poultry and fish. Stay away from fatty foods as these are not healthy for blood pressure levels.

 



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