Blood Pressure and Your Health

One in four adults over the age of 18 or approximately 60 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure. Hypertension, as it is also know as, is a serious health condition that can affect the overall health of an individual. Experiencing hypertension for long periods of time can lead to heart disease, strokes, aneurysms, and even death.

Blood pressure is the measure, in millimeters of mercury (mm hg), of how much the force of blood has on both the heart and arteries when pumping throughout the cardiovascular system. The normal blood pressure reading for a healthy individual is 120/80, as mentioned before, these numbers represent the measure of the force of blood on the arterial walls of the heart and the measure of the pressure in the arteries in between heart pumps, respectively.

Those who suffer from high blood pressure suffer from a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher. There are a number of contributing factors to high blood pressure, some of which can be controlled and some that cannot. Factors that cause high blood pressure that can be controlled are: weight, alcohol consumption, lifestyle, and diet.

A person who is overweight is likely to suffer from hypertension. High blood pressure due to obesity can be reversed when a person begins to lose weight. Maintaining a healthy body weight for the size frame and age, will take away extra stress on the heart and return the blood pressure back to a healthy range.

Alcoholism is also another contributing factor to hypertension. Sleep deprivation and reaction time are not the only effects of drinking alcohol. Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol increases a person's blood pressure, and constant abuse of alcoholic beverages can also lead to the problems that are associated with hypertension.

The lifestyle that a person leads is also often reflected in their blood pressure reading. Those who lead a sedentary lifestyle do not exercise the heart to make it stronger, thereby resulting in a high blood pressure reading. Starting an exercise routine will make the heart stronger and lower a person's blood pressure.

Finally, what a person eats is also predictive of what the blood pressure reading will be. Those who eat a diet high in cholesterol, fat, and sodium are more likely to suffer from hypertension. Eliminating the previously mentioned dietary factors from the diet as well as adding fruits and vegetables, is the best way to lose weight as well as lowering blood pressure.

Keywords: Hypertension, high blood pressure, best way to lose weight, sleep deprivation and reaction time, lose weight

Susan Patterson has been studying alternative medicine and health for over 10 years. She loves to write to help others, especially in the area of quick weight loss, which can be accomplished safely. She has found several herbal remedies to be effective in her journey to better health without the side effects that medications cause. She is particularly passionate about hoodia for weight loss.