No one is immune to high blood pressure.
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| | | | I rarely think about my blood pressure. Really, the only time it crosses my mind is when I have a doctor's appointment and the nurse says "You're this number over that," and I pretend like I know what that means. | | But within the past few weeks, two friends told me that they have high blood pressure. At first, I thought they were joking — they're relatively healthy, fit adults without any pre-existing health conditions. How could they have high blood pressure? Turns out, I haven't been thinking about blood pressure correctly for most of my life. Below, I dive into why this is something we should all keep in our thoughts. | | | | Thanks for taking the time to read.
Kenny Thapoung
Managing Newsletter Editor | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Kenny Thapoung
June 7, 2024 • 4 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Tips to manage blood pressure — for everyone | | An estimated 1.2 billion adults worldwide have high blood pressure (hypertension), and less than half of those people know that they have it. High blood pressure is actually known as the "silent killer" because it doesn't cause symptoms until it's done significant damage to the heart. In fact, my friends didn't know about their blood pressure until their recent checkups. ️ | | Certain health conditions — diabetes and obesity, for example — can put people at a greater risk of hypertension. But anyone can have high blood pressure for a slew of reasons: high sodium intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and other factors. So everyone should be mindful of their blood pressure levels. Because when left unmanaged, hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, memory problems, vision loss, and more.️️ | | But what's considered "normal"? And what are the red flags? As I alluded to earlier, I tune out when a doctor reads my blood pressure to me. However, I found this handy chart that explains how to understand blood pressure readings.️ | - Systolic pressure (top number) indicates the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps out blood.
- Diastolic pressure (bottom number) is the reading of the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.
|  | | The most effective way to treat hypertension will depend on your measurement (among other factors like existing health conditions). Doctors may prescribe certain medications (beta-blockers, diuretics) to get your levels under control. But for milder situations, a few lifestyle changes may be all that someone has to consider:️ | - Maintain a moderate weight (as discussed with your doctors).
- Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week.
- Quit smoking, if you smoke.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Eat less salt and refined sugar.
- Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
- Try to stress less (of course, easier said than done).
| | These are all manageable, doable things that anyone could benefit from! It's best to work with a healthcare professional who understands your life and can properly tailor a treatment plan.️ | | Now, I talked mostly about hypertension — you should also be aware of hypotension, or low blood pressure. ️ | | Hypotension can be caused by pregnancy, dehydration, thyroid disease, and more, which can potentially lead to troubling symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and fainting. And similar to hypertension, hypotension often doesn't present any signs so it's wise to know this whenever you get checked. ️ | | Whew! That was a lot to soak in, right? It's all helpful information I found very enlightening and I hope you did, too! You can bet I'll be forwarding this newsletter to my friends with a playful passive *wink* emoji (😉). ️ | | But the next time someone reads my measurements to me, I'll actually pay attention and know exactly what those numbers mean for my health. ️ | | | | | | | |
| | | | Belt it out | | | | | | |  | | FlipBelt Running Belt with Zipper | | To anyone who will hear me: The FlipBelt running belt is the best option for runners — at least in my very aggressive opinion. It stretches to accommodate various body sizes, never slips up from my waist, and has ample room to store my keys, cell phone, credit card, and a folded reusable grocery bag. I currently own the Acrylic Summer style (as seen here!), which I think looks fun and energizing. | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Have a great weekend, friends!
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