Hypertension guide

In a recent case-controlled study of 3000 people who had a stroke, and an equal number of people who hadn't, it was found that ten risk factors accounted for 90% of all the risk of stroke. Of these risk factors, the one playing the most potent role is high blood pressure. This alone accounted for about one-third of all the stroke risk.

Controlling blood pressure is important because of the major part it plays in both of the forms of stroke. They are ischemic, which is the most common and is caused by a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain. The other is bleeding stroke, or hemorrhagic, which is when the blood vessel bursts. One of the other major causes of stroke, high cholesterol, had a greater importance in ischemic stroke, but not in hemorrhagic stroke.

Incidentally, the other risk factors that were associated with high stroke risk are smoking, lack of physical activity, waist-to-hip ratio (or abdominal obesity), proper diet, diabetes, alcohol intake, depression and stress, and heart disorders. The interesting thing is, all of these can be addressed, and some issues more easily than others. Some risk factors can be controlled with just committing to life-style changes and some with the help of doctor's advice and medication.

The most important thing about high blood pressure as well, the major cause of stroke, is that we are able to control it. It can be quite easily monitored with blood pressure measurements, and if done on a regular basis we always have a reliable source of our risk. Here are some things we all can do to curtail it:

1. Find your target weight. Being overweight or obese will cause your blood pressure to rise as your weight increases. Losing weight has the biggest effect on those who are overweight and already suffer from high blood pressure.

2. Being physically active. It doesn't really take a lot, either. Thirty minutes a day for most days of the week will be a great help, and simply doing things like taking a fast-paced walk or gardening will count. If thirty minutes is too much, break it into ten minute segments.

3. Eating the right food. By eating foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol, and high in vegetables, fruits and lean meats you can reduce your blood pressure. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) has an overall eating plan that you should consider.

4. Use spices in place of sodium. Most Americans use far too much salt and other forms of sodium. Your consumption of salt should not exceed 2.4 grams per day, or to put it into a more visual state that is about one teaspoon. And before you think that seems like quite a bit remember that includes all salt, included in cooking and processed foods. People with high blood pressure might be advised by their doctor to use less.

High blood pressure is a leading cause of physical ailments in the United States, and fast becoming a world-wide problem. It can be easily controlled with just some moderation in our lifestyles, which will greatly benefit us in other areas as well.

Stroke can change a person's life forever, and high blood pressure is the highest contributor to stroke. It is known that a http://healtheybalanceddiet.com/ plays an important part in controlling blood pressure and in turn stroke. Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast living in London.

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