What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure in common language, is a long term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Hypertension?

High blood pressure in itself usually does not cause symptoms, but long term high blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, vision loss, stroke, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.

What Are The Causes Of Hypertension?

• Wrong life style, lack of physical activity
• Eating disorders
• Old age, over weight
• Smoking
• Too much of salt in diet, alcohol
• Obesity 

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Hypertension?

• 30 minutes of yoga every day can help you reduce high blood pressure. Pranayama is the best yoga for controlling high BP.
• Do conscious breathing for 3o minutes every day.
• End your exercise with 5 minutes of Shavasana.
• Do the brisk walk for 30 minutes a day.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Hypertension?

• Do not stay awake till long. Have adequate sleep.
• Reduce stress, avoid stressful situations.
• Reduce weight, if you are obese.
• Smoking 

What Are The Best Foods For Hypertension?

• Eat foods which are rich in potassium, magnesium and fibre. Some of the foods recommended for hypertension are:
• Beetroots are considered the wonder food for high blood pressure. They contain nitrite, which opens the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Cook beetroots or drink juice, either way, it will be healthy for you.
• Add spices like garlic, basil leaves, ginger, cumin to spice up your meals. This will make up for the lack of the taste of food, caused by low salt.
• Grains
• Green, leafy vegetables
• Low-fat dairy products, Yogurt (fat-free)
• Lean meat, poultry products
• Nuts, seeds, and legumes
• Fruits like Apples, apricots, broccoli, carrots, bananas, mangoes, melons, pineapples, oranges, peaches, and strawberries.
• Collards, green beans, green peas, kale, dates, grapes, lima beans, potatoes, raisins, sweet potatoes, spinach, squash, tomatoes. 

What Are The Worst Foods For Hypertension?

• Limit your sodium intake to 1500 milligrams (less than one tablespoon) per day. Avoid foods like:
• Pizza
• Canned juices, processed foods
• Fatty food, oily food
• Pickle
• The more an item stays in food, the more sodium it accumulates. Canned foods need to stay longer and need preservatives. Salt is a good preservative, used in most of the canned foods. However, the longer a vegetable stays in salt, the more sodium it accumulates. Hence, it is always suggested to eat freshly cooked food, then frozen or pre-cooked food.
• Sugar
• Coffee: People who have low blood pressure are recommended coffee as it increases blood pressure. Those with high BP should immediately stop drinking coffee as it contains caffeine, the main culprit of hypertension.
• Alcohol: Having 3 drinks at a time can increase your blood pressure for a short while. Regularly drinking alcohol can result in long term hypertension.

What Are The Medicines For Hypertension?

What Are The Tips To Manage Hypertension?