Controlling High Blood Pressure

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it's crucial to understand the best ways to control it. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and also contributes to the development of heart failure. Understanding the facts about blood pressure will help you better understand how your body works. The key is to start protecting yourself now, no matter what your blood pressure numbers are. Here are some helpful tips on living with and managing your high blood pressure.  

Risk Factors
One of the best ways to control high blood pressure is to be aware of the risk factors so you can offset them. A few of these risk factors that you will have to watch out for-whether you have high blood pressure or not- include:  

1. Age: Being older than age 55 is an important risk factor. Research has shown that the odds of developing high blood pressure increase as you get older.
2. Gender: At younger ages, men are more likely to develop high blood pressure than women. Later in life, however, the risk equals out. But in general, women are still less likely to develop high blood pressure overall.
3. Family History: Having a family history of high blood pressure places you in a higher risk category than someone with no family history of high blood pressure.
4. Smoking: Smoking is a huge risk factor and can lead to a plethora of other health issues besides high blood pressure.
5. Activity level: A low exercise routine leads to a weak heart and obesity. Both of which have been associated in the development of high blood pressure.
6. Diet: While diet, specifically salt intake, has been a contributing risk factor, it’s mostly your weight that determines your risk for high blood pressure.
7. Medications: Certain medications can cause or worsen high blood pressure, as can a number of street, or "recreational" drugs, like cocaine, crack, and amphetamines.
8. Other medical issues: Hormonal imbalances, tumors, and other medical problems can cause a type of high blood pressure known as secondary hypertension.

By keeping the above mentioned risk factors in check and following your doctor's instructions, you will be on the path to a healthy body in no time. Visit your doctor if you are having problems controlling your blood pressure so he or she can get your hypertension in check before it leads to further complications.