If you’ve heard that hypertension (high blood pressure) kills silently, it’s because it does – slowly, quietly, and sometimes painlessly. Hypertension starts by damaging the blood vessels in our body and from there goes on to attack every significant organ- the heart, brain, kidneys, lungs, etc.
We know this. We know hypertension is a serious condition, and if left untreated can even lead to death. But not knowing when or how high blood pressure becomes fatal can keep us from doing what is right.
How do I know if my blood pressure is going out of control? Is there a sign?
Unfortunately, in most cases, hypertension shows no signs until after some severe damage has already been done to the body. The damage could be in the form of a heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, or even death. Hence, it becomes imperative to beat hypertension before it spirals out of control.
How do I take control if there are no signs?
Try following these four simple steps.
1. Know your blood pressure
Start with a simple step– measure your blood pressure regularly. You can use a blood pressure monitor at home or get a checkup at your family doctor’s clinic.
It is not just the obese or the unfit, who need to do this, but because of our current lifestyles, even the lean, the heavy, the seemingly fit, basically everyone is susceptible.
If you notice a frequent rise in your blood pressure, do not hesitate to get a doctor’s consultation.
2. Do not ignore your blood pressure numbers
Blood pressure has this peculiar nature of showing temporary spikes and dips in the levels, often resulting in an inaccurate diagnosis.
If you observe elevated values regularly (above the normal range of 120/80 mmHg), get a proper diagnosis from a certified medical practitioner.
Fact Check
White coat hypertension – a condition whereby a patient’s feeling of anxiety in a medical environment results in an abnormally high reading of their blood pressure Most people take this condition lightly. However, recent research shows that patients with such a condition have a higher chance of developing hypertension in the long run.
3. Ask an expert
If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, try and understand the root cause. Several factors can cause hypertension. It could be stress, that you chose to ignore or it could be a Vitamin D deficiency that you weren’t even aware of.
Talk to the experts in this field (doctors, dieticians, fitness trainers) who can help you understand the reason behind your condition and guide your improvements.
4. Heal your unseen wounds
Your body is resilient. So once you know the root causes, start making changes in your lifestyle to address them. This will help your body heal.
Taking appropriate measures like cutting down on sugary/salty diets and exercising the right way can reset your blood pressure back to normal and eventually heal your damaged blood vessels.
Key Takeaway
Early detection is vital for conditions like hypertension that are asymptomatic in most cases. The earlier you know, lesser are the risks and simpler the solution. Minor tweaks to your lifestyle can then make a remarkable difference in the blood pressure levels.
