(Helpful Tip) The Silent Killer!! Is your blood pressure safe??

How are you managing your blood pressure???

 

My family and I are not in good health in terms of blood pressure: I have severe hypotension (around 75/45), and my mother has hypertension (around 150/100). In my case, I feel less tired and can manage daily life if I control my diet well, while my mother’s blood pressure is somewhat controlled when she takes medication.

Thanks to that, my mom has been taking hypertension medication for almost 20 years now. When she was young, she had low blood pressure, but as she got older, it changed to high blood pressure, so I also tend to be quite sensitive about blood pressure.

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What is blood pressure: It refers to the force exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. When measuring blood pressure, it is divided into systolic blood pressure (highest blood pressure) and diastolic blood pressure (lowest blood pressure). Systolic blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the blood vessels when the heart contracts and pumps blood out, while diastolic blood pressure is the pressure on the blood vessels when the heart relaxes (dilates) and receives blood.

[Naver Knowledge Encyclopedia] Hypertension (Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information, Seoul National University Hospital)

Hypertension, commonly referred to, is defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. Hypertension is broadly classified into secondary hypertension, where the underlying cause is identified, and essential (primary) hypertension, where no cause is found. Approximately 95% of all hypertensive patients have essential hypertension, for which the cause remains unknown. In cases of essential hypertension, although the fundamental cause cannot be determined, most cases are associated with environmental and neurological factors such as family history, alcohol consumption, smoking, advanced age, lack of exercise, obesity, a diet high in salt, and stress.

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Normal blood pressure values: systolic less than 120mmHg / diastolic less than 80mmHg

 

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Hypertension, which is considered a representative lifestyle-related disease along with diabetes, is a frightening disease often called the silent killer. If blood pressure is not controlled and left untreated, it can cause complications in various organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and eyes, so it must be treated immediately upon discovery.

For example, if hypertension persists, the heart muscle thickens to withstand the high pressure, becoming stiff and unable to relax properly, leading to diastolic dysfunction of the heart. If left untreated continuously, the systolic function of the heart may also decline, progressing to heart failure. As a result, symptoms such as shortness of breath during exercise, arrhythmia, chest discomfort, and edema in the lungs and limbs may occur. It is said that approximately one-quarter to one-fifth of all heart failure patients develop it due to hypertension.

Additionally, if hypertension is left untreated, it can affect the kidneys, initially causing symptoms such as proteinuria, which gradually worsen and may lead to sclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and uremia.

In addition, it can cause various complications such as vision problems, blood flow disorders in the arms and legs, aneurysms, and aortic ruptures.

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It is estimated that over 11 million adults in our country have hypertension, with a prevalence rate of 29%.

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Symptoms of high blood pressure

Hypertension is difficult to detect because it often has no obvious symptoms. Occasionally, when symptoms do occur and lead to a hospital visit, they may include headaches, dizziness, palpitations, or fatigue caused by high blood pressure, as well as symptoms like nosebleeds, blood in the urine, vision loss, or angina. However, most people do not notice any symptoms at all.

Nowadays, since there are blood pressure monitors in hospitals and various institutions, I recommend checking your blood pressure whenever you have the chance. Especially if your parents are over 65 years old, it is good to check their blood pressure regularly. For women, blood pressure tends to increase rapidly starting from their 50s, particularly after menopause.

 

It is difficult to diagnose hypertension based on a single blood pressure measurement. If the blood pressure is high, it is important to measure at least two more times. If the diastolic blood pressure is 90 or higher and the systolic blood pressure is 140 or higher, hypertension should be suspected, and it is important to visit a hospital for an accurate diagnosis.

When measuring blood pressure, it is recommended to rest in a seated position for at least 5 minutes before taking the measurement, and it is advisable to avoid smoking or caffeine intake within 30 minutes prior to measurement.

Usually, high blood pressure occurs in the elderly, but these days, even young people are showing symptoms of diabetes or hypertension, so being young doesn't necessarily mean it's safe.

 

Precautions for Hypertension

If you have high blood pressure, it is most important to correct lifestyle habits such as weight control, limiting salt intake, and restricting alcohol and nicotine consumption. In particular, weight control is the most crucial, and for overweight or obese patients, weight loss through dietary management is recommended. However, even when managing your diet, it is important to ensure adequate protein intake to prevent any impairment of kidney function.

Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for hypertension and stroke, and it can weaken the effectiveness of medication, so it is advisable to avoid it. Additionally, it is recommended to increase calcium intake, increase the ratio of fiber and unsaturated fatty acids, and also reduce caffeine intake.

Lowering blood pressure by just 10 to 20 mmHg can reduce strokes by 30 to 40% and heart disease by 15 to 20%.

 

In addition to managing these eating habits, if you have stage 1 hypertension, you need to take medication.

Some people believe that once they start taking hypertension medication, they have to take it for life and therefore do not take the medication. However, starting blood pressure medication does not mean lifelong use; if blood pressure returns to normal through health management, the medication can be discontinued. Therefore, more effort is needed to lower blood pressure. However, if blood pressure cannot be controlled through such health management, there are risk factors that can lead to various complications, so taking medication and managing it would be a much safer approach.

Since taking blood pressure medication can put a strain on the liver, I recommend taking a liver-friendly supplement together. Due to the nature of blood pressure medication, it can burden the liver during detoxification, and if the liver does not function properly, it can negatively affect blood pressure regulation. This may increase the risk of hypertension due to obesity, elevated blood lipid levels, inflammation, and other factors.

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Foods good for high blood pressure

Low-fat milk, pomegranate, beet, citrus fruits, dark chocolate, banana, potato, spinach

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Foods that are bad for high blood pressure

Instant, fast food, sugar, fructose, flour-based foods, trans fats, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes

 

However!!!!

 

While the risks of high blood pressure are widely recognized, low blood pressure is often left unmanaged in most cases.

In my case, I have quite severe low blood pressure, so I always pay attention to it and manage it carefully.

I usually take a little time and wake up slowly in the morning. Especially when it's hot or cold, I tend to take even more time to get up. I feel very dizzy and could fall over.

 

Symptoms of low blood pressure

If you have low blood pressure, you often feel fatigued, dizzy, and lack energy. Additionally, symptoms such as loss of appetite, digestive issues, insomnia, ringing in the ears, and anxiety can accompany it. Since the main cause of low blood pressure is often related to constitutional factors, consistent exercise, adequate sleep, and proper diet management are very important.

 

Blood pressure below 90/60 mmHg

 

Hydration is very important for low blood pressure. About 5 liters of bodily fluids are in the blood, so when hydration decreases, blood pressure drops and electrolytes are lost. To manage low blood pressure, it is necessary to diligently consume fluids. Sudden changes in posture or tilting the head downward can trigger symptoms of low blood pressure, so caution is needed. Standing for long periods is also not good.

Due to inadequate blood supply, I often experience frequent headaches, and upon waking in the morning, I sometimes suddenly feel my vision darken or dizziness, and my hands and feet may become cold. Usually, low blood pressure in the morning can cause dizziness, nausea, or balance issues. However, most cases of orthostatic hypotension can be recovered by lying on their side and resting when symptoms occur.

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Foods good for low blood pressure

Iron-rich grains, green vegetables, proteins, fish, shrimp, dark chocolate, lentils, cheese, eggs

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Foods that are bad for low blood pressure

High-fat, high-calorie foods, snacks containing high sugar content, and beverages that cause fluid loss (such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks).

 

 

My mother and I have opposite bad blood pressure readings, but the foods that are good or bad for blood pressure are not that different, so we always pay attention to our meals and snacks. We rarely eat instant foods or takeout, and we try to consume protein daily through beans, fish, eggs, and other sources.

I can at least walk a hundred steps outside and exercise, but in my mother's case, due to her age and ankle problems, she cannot walk much, so she is thoroughly managing her weight by finding various stretching and exercise methods she can do sitting at home, ensuring she never exceeds 55kg.

Since hypertension warning signs can often be improved significantly through diet management and weight control alone, do not overly trust your health or blood pressure. Regularly check your blood pressure and always stay alert; this is very important!

If my blood pressure happens to be outside the normal range, remember that it is a major warning sign for health and that consistent management is necessary~~