High blood pressure diagnosis review and 6 ways to lower blood pressure

In the middle of this year, my wife was diagnosed with hypertension at the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment. Therefore, I would like to share the process of her diagnosis and the efforts our family is making for her treatment. My mother and relatives on my mother's side have had hypertension since I was young, so I have been cautious about it as well, but I never expected my wife to be suddenly diagnosed with hypertension.ㅜ.ㅜ

We are sharing six methods we are practicing to lower blood pressure^^

 

Since the beginning of this year, my wife has been experiencing persistent headaches and migraines, so we visited several hospitals. They said there was nothing unusual, but I was still concerned, so I measured her blood pressure at home with our blood pressure monitor, and it was around 140 to 150. I thought her blood pressure was slightly high, but her lower blood pressure was close to 120, which made me a bit worried. However, she still didn't go to the hospital.

So I told them to go later and forgot about it. For your reference, I also have borderline blood pressure due to my family genetics, so I always measure my blood pressure. Suddenly I remembered and measured it at the same time, and it came out to 165 / 128.ㅜ.ㅜ

I thought I couldn't do it, so I went to the hospital, and when they measured it at the hospital, they used both the automatic and manual devices four times, and all readings exceeded 150, so I was diagnosed with hypertension and received medication, then I went home.

 

The medication prescribed is a drug called Twinstar, to be taken as one tablet, and the blood pressure will be checked again in two weeks.

 

 

This is a blood pressure record, but it didn't go below 120 well over the two weeks. So I had to go see the doctor even if it was just a check-in.

Decided to wait for two weeks and endured it~~

 

 

When I visited the hospital two weeks later, they prescribed me two pills each because my blood pressure wasn't dropping as expected, and since then, it has been gradually...

My blood pressure has stabilized within normal ranges after dropping.

 

 

Before I explain how to lower blood pressure, I will provide an explanation about hypertension.

 

Definition of hypertension

Hypertension refers to a condition where the systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or higher, or the diastolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg or higher.

And when systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are below 120mmHg and 80mmHg, respectively, it is considered normal blood pressure.

Blood pressure is classified into normal blood pressure, prehypertension, hypertension stage 1, and stage 2 hypertension. Additionally, hypertension without a known cause is called essential hypertension, while hypertension with an identifiable cause is called secondary hypertension. In cases of secondary hypertension, removing the cause typically restores blood pressure to normal. Most cases are essential hypertension.

 

[Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency National Health Information Portal]

 

In my case, my blood pressure appears normal when measured at home, but when I go to the hospital, I get nervous and it rises to nearly 140... This is called white coat hypertension. The hospital staff told me that if my blood pressure is normal when measured at home, there is no major problem.

 

   

[Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency National Health Information Portal]

 

I highly recommend having a blood pressure monitor at home and checking your blood pressure regularly. Omron blood pressure monitors can be purchased for 20,000 to 30,000 won. Some hospitals also measure blood pressure with the same device as mine~~

 

 

Causes of hypertension

Hypertension is complex and diverse, and there is also a genetic tendency. In my case, my blood pressure has always been higher than normal due to my maternal family history.ㅜ.ㅜ However, my wife, who has no family history, was diagnosed with hypertension... For my wife, environmental factors are at play. There are generally three main factors: smoking, alcohol consumption, and excessive sodium intake... But I have been engaging in all three since I was young, so it was risky, but thanks to quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, and a low-sodium diet over the past few years, my blood pressure is still normal^^

Psychological stress and pain also raise blood pressure, but they do not cause a chronic increase in blood pressure.

 

Diagnosis and Tests for Hypertension

The diagnosis of hypertension relies on accurate blood pressure measurement. Blood pressure can vary greatly depending on factors such as environment and measurement site, so it should be measured multiple times. Additionally, proper blood pressure measurement at home is important. Besides measuring at home, it is also recommended to visit the hospital regularly for measurements. For those of us with a family history, it is especially important to check frequently.

 

[Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency National Health Information Portal]

 

Treatment of hypertension

The treatment goal for hypertension is to aim for less than 120/80.

Typically, treatment begins with medication, and as blood pressure levels are monitored, the medication is gradually reduced and eventually transitioned to non-pharmacological therapy.

 

 

[Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency National Health Information Portal]

 

Non-pharmacological treatment is actively recommended because it has a clear blood pressure-lowering effect when practicing lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and alcohol moderation, compared to other chronic diseases.

 

From now on, I will talk about the six ways our family is practicing to prevent high blood pressure.

 

Prevention of hypertension

1. Regular exercise

 

Exercise helps to lower blood pressure. We use the subway for commuting in the morning and evening, walking an extra station and getting off a station earlier, then walking briskly, which amounts to about 5,000 to 7,000 steps. It takes about 20 minutes longer. Additionally, I do strength training 2 to 3 times a week for about 40 minutes. Just doing these activities can reduce blood pressure by about 10 mmHg.

 

2. Limit sodium intake

 

Low-sodium diet is ideal, but it's completely impossible to follow while socializing. So I avoid the broth and only eat the solid ingredients, and at home, I add just a little salt when eating. It was really hard at first because it tasted so bad, but after suffering for a month, I got used to it, haha.

 

3. Practice of moderate drinking

 

Sigh... This has been the hardest for me, and it's still difficult now. I used to love alcohol immensely and was good at drinking... Before I turned 40, I would binge drink about five days a week, but after quitting smoking a few years ago, I reduced it to three days a week, and since last year, I’ve cut it down to twice a week. People around me often say, "Do you really drink only twice a week?" but I’ve reduced it even more, so it’s quite challenging... Anyway, after reducing, not drinking alcohol altogether is good, but not eating snacks with alcohol has helped me lose weight and reduce belly fat~~~~ This definitely works well, haha.

 

4. Reducing caffeine

 

I have tinnitus, so I didn't consume much caffeine, but since the sudden hearing loss two years ago, I have been only consuming decaffeinated products. I used to measure my blood pressure before and after drinking caffeine, and it definitely increased.

 

5. Maintain healthy eating habits (consume only whole grains and fruits)

 

 

Since my wife was diagnosed with hypertension, we always keep fruits and whole grain bread ready, and she eats them whenever she feels bored.

And I always include a salad whenever I have a meal. My wife is such a bread lover that it's hard for her to stop eating bread, which worries me, but we're still making good progress.^^

 

6. Nutritional supplement intake (Coenzyme Q10)

 

 

This is something I've been taking for several years. There are many expensive and high-quality supplements, but Doctor's Best CoQ10 is made with ubiquinol, which is well absorbed by the body, and the price is also good, so I always take it. It not only helps lower blood pressure but also prevents aging, so I am diligently taking it, haha.

 

So far, I have shared the six methods our family has been practicing to lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension.

It was a long message, but I wrote it with the hope that it might be of some help to those who are borderline hypertensive.

Thank you for reading!!