A high blood pressure is the greatest risk of dying prematurely. And after 50, the blood pressure goes steeply upwards. But since high blood pressure rarely gives any symptoms, you do not feel sick. Then the risk is great that you do not check the pressure at all.
High blood pressure is nothing you suffer from and then it can be difficult to understand that it must be treated. In the long run, you may not even take the medicine the doctor prescribes, says Jonas Spaak, professor of cardiology at the heart clinic at Danderyd Hospital.
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes are recommended today for those who have high blood pressure. The changes that have the most effect are to switch to a healthier diet and exercise more.
Every kilo lowers the pressure
It makes a big difference if you are physically inactive and start training something. It can lower blood pressure by 5 to 15 millimeters, says Jonas Spaak.
This can be compared with medicines that lower the pressure by an average of 7-8 millimeters.
Just increasing the number of steps per day can make a big difference.
If you are overweight, a weight loss of ten kilos can lower blood pressure by 10 millimeters. For every kilo, the pressure is lowered by one millimeter.
Differently sensitive
When it comes to salt, the advice is to reduce consumption, even if not everyone gets a blood pressure increase from it.
We know that salt affects blood pressure but not everyone. It's a bit different how sensitive you are to it. Ideally, we should not consume more than 6 mg of salt per day.
The more of these changes you make, the greater the effect you get, according to Jonas Spaak:
But for most people, it is difficult to lower blood pressure with just lifestyle, so medication is also needed.
Blood pressure is the pressure that occurs in the blood vessels when the blood is pumped from the heart out into the body and then back again.
An optimal pressure is below 120/80 mmHg (stands for millimeter mercury).
If you are above 140/90, it is considered hypertension, which should be treated. The goal of treatment is now a blood pressure below 130/80, according to the new guidelines. Previously, the goal was 140/90.
High blood pressure is mainly caused by increasing age, but also overweight, physical inactivity, and heredity play a role. If high blood pressure is not treated, it wears down our vessels and the heart's pumping ability over time.
In the long run, it increases the risk of heart diseases such as stroke and infarction.
