Blood pressure and its prevalence in United States

by Max Jones | May 30, 2015 | BPH | 0 comments

About one-third of Americans suffer from high blood pressure, and it is the leading cause of death in the United States. The deaths caused by hypertension or high blood pressure have increased in the past 13 years. These numbers have been reported by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Blood pressure

This article pinpoints the various causes, symptoms of high blood pressure, and some remedies for the same.
High blood pressure is also known as Hypertension. It is commonly referred to as the ‘silent killer’. In the US, nearly one out of three individuals is struggling with this health condition. Blood pressure means the force with which the blood flowing in the body pushes against the walls of the arteries. If this pressure remains too high for a long period of time, it might cause problems and damage the body.

Although there is a decrease in the cases of deaths due to stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, the major condition behind most of these problems is still Hypertension, which is still very prevalent in the United States.

Some fast facts of high blood pressure in the US:

One out of three adults in the US has high BP (that’s 29% of American adults)
Only half (50%) of those of 29% people suffering from hypertension have their BP under control
About one-third of the individuals in the US have prehypertension

Common causes of High Blood Pressure:

There are various factors that can cause hypertension, namely:

Family history (chances of getting high blood pressure increase if the condition runs in families)
High intake of salt
Use of a large amount of dietary sugar
Lack of exercise
Smoking
Being overweight or obese
Drinking a large amount of alcohol
Some underlying health conditions, like diabetes, kidney problems, Cushing syndrome, etc., may also cause secondary hypertension
Use of NSAIDs, oral contraceptives, recreational drugs like cocaine and some herbal supplements can also lead to hypertension

Some common symptoms of High Blood Pressure:

Hypertension usually has no symptoms, and many people might have it without even realising it. The only way to make sure that you have it is through a BP test. All adults should check their BP at least once every 5 years.
In rare cases, BP may have the following symptoms:

Headaches
Blurred vision
Shortness of breath
Nose bleeds (often stated as a myth)
In addition to the above mentioned symptoms, the patients may also complain of:
Severe headaches
Anxiety
Shortness of breath
Fascial flushing etc.

BP is largely considered to be a symptomless disease; the above-mentioned symptoms are thought to be myths by most doctors and researchers. Hence, one should never wait for symptoms to appear; instead, one should have a blood pressure test regularly to protect oneself from other ailments.

Some common remedies for high blood pressure are:

Watch your waistline and lose those extra pounds. Losing weight will make your BP medications more effective, and it will be easier for you to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.
Do regular exercise to control BP. Doing workouts for 30-60 minutes 3-4 times a week can bring significant changes in blood pressure. Even moderate and mild activities like walking and jogging can help you control your weight and, in turn, your BP.
Reducing your sodium intake can help lower elevated blood pressure. Limit sodium to 2,300 mg or less per day.
Limit your alcohol intake as it may reduce your blood pressure levels by 2-4 points
Cut down your caffeine intake to lower your hypertension and to bring the levels to normal. Some people sensitive to caffeine can test their sensitivity by checking their blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking coffee.
Reducing your stress levels is yet another best remedy for hypertension because stress or anxiety may temporarily increase your BP, and reducing stress will reduce your anxiety levels too. To reduce stress, you can opt for yoga, meditation, and massage.

Conclusion:

If your blood pressure is not under control and your medications are also failing, you must consult your doctor to make adjustments to your diet and medications. The above information, including the causes and remedies of high blood pressure, might be helpful to you.