How to control High Blood Pressure in winter : an Introduction
High blood pressure : which is also called hypertension, affects body's arteries. In high blood pressure, the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is too high and the heart has to work harder to pump the blood.
Hypertension is measured in millimetres of Mercury(mmHg). And generally, a blood pressure reading of 130/80 mmHg or higher is called hypertension.
-> According to the American College of cardiology and the American heart association; blood pressure can be divided into four general categories:-
(a.) Normal Blood Pressure : Blood Pressure less than or equal to 120/80 mmHg is the normal blood pressure.
(b.) Elevated Blood Pressure: Blood Pressure with top range from 122 to 129 mmHg and bottom range from 80 to 89 mmHg is called elevated blood pressure.
(c.) Stage One Hypertension: Blood Pressure with top range from 130 to 139mmHg and the bottom range from 80 to 89 mmHg is called stage 1 of hypertension.
(d.) Stage 2 hypertension: Blood Pressure with the top range 140mmHg or higher and the bottom range 90mmHg or higher is called stage 2 of Hypertension.
-> Blood Pressure higher than 180/120mmHg is considered a hypertensive emergency or crisis. People with this blood pressure numbers needed medical emergency.
-> If untreated, High Blood Pressure increases the risk of heart attack, Stroke, Kidney Failure and other serious health problems.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure in winter :
Some people have no any symptom of high blood pressure even if they have blood pressure readings very high. However, generally some people have shown following symptoms of Hypertension:
> Headaches
> Shortness of breath
> Nose Bleeds
Causes :
Blood Pressure measure depends upon two things -
(a.) Amount of blood the Heart pumps (b.) How hard it is for the blood to move through the arteries.
That's means the more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries , the higher the blood pressure .
Types of high blood pressure diseases:
(a.) Primary Hypertension :
Many adults have no any identifiable cause of blood pressure; and it has a tendency to increase over many years. Generally, plaque build up in the arteries (Atherosclerosis)increase the blood pressure. Such kind of hypertension is called primary or essential hypertension.
(b.) Secondary Hypertension :
Due to some specific health conditions, such type of blood pressure appear suddenly and remain higher than primary hypertension. This type of hypertension is called Secondary Hypertension.
Medical Condition which may lead to secondary hypertension are :
> Blood Vessel Problems
> Cough and Cold medicines
> Kidney Disease
> Sleep Apnea
> Thyroid Problems
> Adrenal Gland Problems such as tumors
Risk Factors Of Hypertension :
Hypertension have many risk factors like-
(a.) age
(b.) race
(c.) family history
(d.) obesity or being overweight
(e.) lack of exercise
(f.) tobacco consumption or smoking
(g.) consumption of salt
(h.) drinking alcohol
(i.) stress
(j.) Chronic conditions like kidney disease or diabetes or sleep apnea
(k.) pregnancy
=> The risk of high blood pressure increases with age. Upto age of 64, hypertension is more common in men.
=> High Blood Pressure is more common among Black people than in White people.
=> Excess weight or obesity influen inces and increases blood pressure.
=> If there is a history of high blood pressure in the family, more probably it could be to the upcoming generation.
=> Lack of exercise also increases the risk of hypertension.
=> Consumption of more salts, low level of potassium, drinking alcohol and increase level of stress influences the increase the blood pressure rapidly.
Problems Associated With Hypertension :
Access pressure on the artery walls caused by high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and also can damage several body organs.
Hypertension can lead to the following health complications :-
(a.) heart attack
(b.) stroke
(c.) heart failure
(d.) kidney problems
(e.) Eye Problems
(f.) Dementia
(g.) Ioss of memory
(h.) Metabolic Syndrome
How Often Check Blood Pressure :
> To screen your blood pressure, is important for health care. And how often you should get your blood pressure check depends upon one's age and health conditions.
> Everybody elder than 18 years should get his blood pressure check once in a year.
> After an age of more than 40 years or if any complications occur, blood pressure should be checked twice a year.
> In case of any complications the blood pressure should be checked once in a week.
Winter And Hypertension :
>In winter due to cold, blood vessels got constrained. Which increases the blood pressure in a unhealthy way. Also, due to increase consumption of salty food, and inactive lifestyle; the level of blood pressure got increase in hypertension patients.
>As the Mercury drops in winter, the body restricts blood flow in an effort to maintain temperature and retain heat. Due to which, it restric the blood movement and causes blood pressure to rise.
Blood Pressure:affects and care in winter season
=>Cold weather can affect blood pressure badly. Blood pressure is generally higher in the winter season. Low temperature causes blood vessels to shrink and become narrow. This increases blood pressure to pass through narrowed veins and arteries.
=> In winter season, due to increase urge of eating food and decrease tendency of work out, body gain weight. Also due to this increase consumption of salty food, naturally it increases blood pressure.
=>Falling temperature in winter may cause an unhealthy rise in high blood pressure in elderly people; according to a new study linking cooler temperatures with high blood pressure.
=> A latest study from France has shown that blood pressure in elderly people varies significantly with the seasons; with rate of high blood pressure readings rising from 23.8% in summer to 33.4% in winter. Blood Pressure increases were seen in both the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) numbers.
=> In winter season, our life style got totally changed. Due to which, our dietary menu also got affected. Many items which are spicee, salty and oilly, got included in our diet. To keep us warm, it seem natural to include these things in our diet. But ultimately, these foods affect our bodies metabolism and due to increased consumption of sodium rich diet, it increases the blood pressure of our body too.
=> For healthy and young people, it is not a very sensitive matter to be worried about; but as far as any patient of hypertension or elderly person are concerned, it becomes a matter of risk. Because, those who are already suffering from the condition of hypertension could feel a normal increase in the blood pressure in winter season.
=> Because in summer season, due to hot weather, our body sweats and it loses salts along with the sweating, which reduces the level of sodium in our body.
=> But in winter, due to cold weather, our body generally do not sweat, also consumption of salty or sodium rich diet increases, which finally increases the level of sodium in our body. This increase in Sodium, increases the retention of water in our body; and finally, due to increase in the volume of fluid or blood, it increases the pressure or blood pressure of our body.
=> Also due to increase in cold weather condition, our veins and artery got shrinked; which also ultimately help in increase of blood pressure of our body. Hence, it is clear that, due to certain reasons, there is a significant increase in the blood pressure of our body.
=> Also several researches proved that, in winter our blood pressure got increased. And it affects the health of hypertension patients and the elderly person badly.
=> So there should be some steps needed to be taken to take care of our health specially to keep our blood pressure in a healthy range.
tips and methods useful for high blood pressure care during winter season
-> A hypertension patient should minimising outdoor activity to reduce sudden changes in the hearts work load, and also avoiding extreme exertion or heavy lifting.
-> To avoid cold attacks, dressing should be in layers to conserve body heat.
-> A hypertension patient, should not even ignore light cold weather, and should wear a scarf and gloves when stepping outside, to minimise the amount of skin exposed to outdoor low temperature, because such an exposure could increase blood pressure.
-> Many people prefer to consume alcohol during winter to keep them warm, but it is a wrong assumption that alcohol keeps us warm. Instead, it increases blood pressure in our body and our body lose heat more rapidly. Hence, an hypertension patient should avoid to consume alcohol.
-> Consume warm water at a regular interval to get benefit in two ways :
(a.) Warm water helps to maintain our body heat and prevent our artery and veins from shrinking.
(b.) By consuming moderate to high amount of water; the water reduces salt and sodium level in the body through urination. And maintain the blood pressure level in the body.
-> A hypertension patient should take sun- bath for some while, so that vitamin-d could be fulfilled in our body. Because, due to lack of vitamins, also hormonal imbalances took place in our body which finally negatively affect the blood pressure inside the blood vessels.
-> A high blood pressure patient should take a nutritional diet which is enriched with all nutrients, and helps our body to maintain the blood pressure level in balance.
-> Consumption of fruits which are available seasonally, should be increased. As the fruits are rich in potassium, which helps our body to regulate the amount of sodium intake and its level control.
-> a hypertension patient should consult to his/her physician before the winter starts to reconstruct it's prescription and advices.
-> Tea/Coffee consumption should be replaced with honey-lemon juice and green- tea.
-> Yoga practices like : Kapalbhati, Anulom- vilom, Bhramary and Pranayam should be done on regular basis.
-> Morning walk and evening walk should also be included along with light cardiovascular exercises in our daily routine.
-> A closer watch on the Body-Mass-Index or BMI should be taken, as in winter, due to higher intake of oily and spicy food could increase our body weight and could affect blood pressure negatively.
-> By following all the steps given above, one can enjoy the winter season with a blood pressure level maintained.
->Above all, you should be happy and cool mind and enjoy your life journey without any pressure. It will help you to maintain your blood pressure as well.
->Keep reading our articles and keep smiling. thank you.
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