Tips for hypertensive patients

Important facts:

• Hypertension can be asymptomatic (the patient doesn't suffer from symptoms) and may be detected by a regular blood pressure measurment. It may be presented by headache in the morning (in the back of the head), vertigo (sense of rotation), tinnitus and epistaxis.
  
  Tinnitus= Sense of hearing noise [Perception of sound that doesn't exist]. Epistaxis=Bleeding from the nose.
  
  
• In hypertensive women, the combination of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) and cigarette smoking is very dangerous.
  
  
• The rise of blood pressure to 140/90 or more is considered hypertension. In diabetic patients the number is about 130/85.
  
  
• Alcohol consumption contributes to systemic hypertension in about 10% of cases. Hypertension risk factors include: alcohol, smoking, old age, stressful work and inheritance (having hypertensive relevants/parents).
  
  
• Some medications as Nasal decongestants used in cold can be risky for hypertensive patients.
  
  

Complications of hypertension:

• The risk of stroke is increased to 4-6 times with hypertension.
  
  
• Hypertension is the most common couse of intracerebral hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke).
  
  
• It can affect your ability to think or remember, sometimes.
  
  
• Hypertension has a bad effect on your heart, brain, eyes, and kidneys.
  
  
• Hypertension can be controlled if you follow your doctor's instructions and guidelines and take your medication.
  

Treatment of hypertension:

• It's essential to determine the type of hypertension with your doctor to know the best treatment plan for your case.
  
  
• Physical rest is essential and will help decrease the work of the heart and reduce your blood pressure.
  
  
• Mental rest. Just like physical rest, avoiding stress is part of the treatment to lower your blood pressure.
  
  
• Learn to breath slowly, to meditate and relax to relief yourself from the stress. Get enough rest and sleep.
  
  
• Pregnant and Diabetic patients should follow the doctor's instructions exactly and shouldn't take any medications before consulting their doctor.
  
  
• Reduce your total caloric intake, restrict salt in your diet as you can and be careful with your daily sodium intake. A special high blood pressure diet should be considered, containing low fat, calories and sodium.
  
  
• Excercise & weight reduction will help you reduce your blood pressure, your heart rate but avoid vigorous or strenuous muscular excercise. Choose an activity you love, warm up and increase the excercise level gradually.
  
  
• Wait 1-2 hours after meals before excercise.
  
  
• Stop excercise if you feel any pain, weakness or giddiness. Stage 3 hypertension should be treated with medications forst before excercise!
  
  
• Weight loss can be the missing link in hypertension treatment sometimes.
  
  You can practice brisk walking for 30-45 minutes for three times weekly.
  
  
• Stop smoking! Stop drinking alcohol!

So to summarize it up, the most important general mesures (non pharmacological) to reduce blood pressure are : Rest, Sress reduction, Weight reduction, Excercise and Stopping smoking and alcohol.