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March 27, 2023
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is defined as having a consistently high blood pressure reading above 130/80 mmHg. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and even early death.
The dangers of high blood pressure & its impact on life expectancy
Studies have consistently shown that high blood pressure can significantly reduce life expectancy. For example, one study published in the Lancet found that people with high blood pressure (above 130/80 mmHg) had a shorter life expectancy compared to those with normal blood pressure levels. Specifically, they found that a 30-year-old with high blood pressure could expect to live, on average, 4.8 years less than someone with normal blood pressure.
High blood pressure: A Primary or Contributing Cause of Death for Hundreds of Thousands of Americans Each Year
Furthermore, high blood pressure can increase the risk of a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and even dementia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure is a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 480,000 Americans each year.
Modifiable Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure and How to Manage Them
The good news is that many of the risk factors for high blood pressure are modifiable through lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, reducing sodium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. By taking steps to manage your blood pressure, you can significantly improve your overall health and reduce your risk of related health problems.
Losing Weight: A Crucial Step in Managing High Blood Pressure
One of the most important steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing these health problems is to manage your blood pressure levels. Losing weight is a crucial part of this process, as it can significantly lower your blood pressure and help prevent the onset of related health problems.
Research has consistently shown that losing weight can have a significant impact on blood pressure levels. When you carry excess weight, your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can cause your blood pressure to rise. Losing even a small amount of weight can reduce this strain on your heart, leading to lower blood pressure levels and a reduced risk of related health problems.
Other Lifestyle Changes to Help Manage High Blood Pressure
In addition to weight loss, there are a number of other lifestyle changes you can make to help manage your blood pressure levels. These include exercising regularly, eating a healthy and balanced diet that is low in sodium, quitting smoking, and limiting your alcohol intake.
Working with Your Doctor to Develop a Comprehensive Treatment Plan for High Blood Pressure
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to work closely with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. This may include medication to help lower your blood pressure, as well as lifestyle changes like losing weight and increasing your exercise levels.
SANAMethod's Approach to Managing High Blood Pressure
One of the cornerstone assessments and ‘health KPI’s’ we measure at SANAMethod is blood pressure. By establishing a baseline, helping the client lose weight, improve fitness and optimise lifestyle factors, we know that this all-important metric will improve. Sometimes we even see that this will move considerably even before there has been much weight loss. This is always great news as it’s an insight into how much healthier we can get just by improving some basic inputs like diet, sleep and daily movement.
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