Acknowledge National High Blood Pressure and Stroke Awareness Month This May

Posted by williamjack on June 26th, 2019

Before the National High Blood Pressure and Stroke Awareness month of May begins, it’s important to stress on the importance of maintaining proper blood pressure. Did you know that high blood pressure or Hypertension is the major cause for many health conditions including stroke?

Experts say half of the strokes are caused by high blood pressure and more than 80% can be prevented by keeping a check on blood pressure levels. However, if left uncontrolled, it can lead to disability, poor quality of life, and even heart attack.

Turns out, there couldn’t have been a better month to start eating healthy, be more physically active and check your blood pressure and heart condition with the help of PC-based resting ECG.

But how does high blood pressure cause a stroke?

Hypertension increases the pressure of blood flowing through the arteries, and puts them under constant stress. Just like an overinflated tire would burst, too much pressure inside arteries weakens them and damages their wall.

A stroke is caused by two major reasons - reduced blood flow to the brain and bleeding in and around the brain. When it occurs due to reduced blood flow to the brain, which is because of a clot that forms inside an artery, it’s called an ischemic stroke where in brain cells start dying without oxygen. In most cases, hypertension is a common cause as it makes arteries get narrower, harder, and clog them with fatty plaque.

When a stroke is a result of bleeding in and around the brain, it’s known as a hemorrhagic stroke. This usually happens when a weaker artery breaks open up and leads to internal bleeding. Since hypertension weakens arteries, it’s believed to be the major culprit in hemorrhagic strokes.

Ways to prevent high blood pressure

Since controlling your blood pressure can help prevent stroke and heart conditions, here are a few ways you can keep your blood pressure in a healthy range:

Eat less sugar, salt, saturated fats

Maintain a healthy weight

Exercise

Avoid alcohol

Quit smoking

Practice deep breathing to lower stress

Tip: Always keep a check on your heart health using a PC-based resting ECG and consult a doctor in case of abnormalities.

Bottom Line

A small step in the direction of keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range can prevent stroke and even a heart attack can offer a healthy living alternative. From May, let’s start eating healthy and living healthy.

Author’s bio: The author is a blogger and this article is about hypertension and stroke.

 

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williamjack

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williamjack
Joined: August 24th, 2016
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