Anxiety, age increase risks of hypertension

In general, ageing makes the blood pressure to increase naturally; while stress also does the same, temporarily.

Physicians maintain that it isn’t old age that makes us sick; rather, they say, it is sickness that makes us age.

This is particularly true of hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure.

Nutritionists say that poor diet, smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet rich in fatty and sugary foods, all increase a person’s risks for developing high blood pressure with age.

The heart pumps blood into the blood vessels (arteries), which carry the blood throughout the body. The blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls.

General practitioner, Dr. Dideolu Akande, says blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries.

“The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure,” he warns.

High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body — a situation that contributes to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), ultimately leading to the development of heart failure.

While experts argue that the exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, they warn that several factors and conditions may play a role in its development.

According to the Medical Director, Life Detox Centre, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, these factors include smoking, being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, too much salt in the diet, too much alcohol consumption, stress, old age, genetics, family history of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and adrenal/thyroid disorders.

Akande says an individual can have hypertension for years without any symptoms. “That is why it is sometimes called silent killer,” he says.

Uncontrolled hypertension increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Akande states, “High blood pressure typically develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.” Beyond taking appropriate medications for hypertension, though, cardiologists, nutritionists and a host of scientific evidence all agree that you can lower your blood pressure and keep it in check by eating sensibly.

Eat for your heart

Experts say certain foods are beneficial to the body because of their capability to lower blood pressure. Plant-based diets and diets high in fruit and vegetables are strongly associated with lower blood pressure.

“That’s why we recommend the adoption of healthy eating practices as one of the primary actions to take to prevent or lower high blood pressure and hypertension,” Akande explains. So, what are these wonder foods?

Broccoli

Nutritionists say broccoli contains fibre, potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta-carotene, all of which can help in lowering blood pressure. A dietician, Dr. Matilda Hamzat, says these nutrients, being present naturally in most plants, help boost immunity and fight off diseases. Other vegetables with similar compounds include carrots, kale and spinach.

Again, Hamzat says, broccoli also contains chromium, which helps to regulate insulin and blood sugar. You can eat it raw, steamed, juiced, or as a side dish.

Whole-grain oats

America-based emeritus clinical hypertension specialist, Dr. Sheldon Sheps, notes that eating more whole-grain foods on a regular basis may help reduce your chance of developing hypertension.

He says, “Whole grains are grains that include the entire grain kernel — they haven’t had their bran and germ removed by refining. They are a rich source of healthy nutrients such as fibre, potassium, magnesium and folate.”

Akande says eating more whole-grain foods offers many health benefits that can work together to help reduce your risk of high blood pressure by aiding in weight control, increasing your intake of potassium, which is linked to lower blood pressure; decreasing your risk of insulin resistance and reducing damage to your blood vessels.

“If you already have high blood pressure, eating more whole-grain foods might help lower your blood pressure and possibly reduce your need for blood pressure medication because the fibre and magnesium found in oats both have beneficial effects on blood pressure,” Akande assures.

Garlic

Though garlic has unpalatable smell, its health benefit when it comes to lowering blood pressure is highly commendable. Researchers say this wonder bulb is a good food that helps in waging war against hypertension because it acts as a blood thinner.

Nutritionists say when chopped, garlic produces allicin, a compound that has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help fight diseases that may result from hypertension, such as stroke and heart disease. It also helps to lower cholesterol.

Black beans

The high fibre and protein content of legumes, generally, make them ideal for beating hypertension.

“This combination works wonders for regulating blood sugar and lowering blood cholesterol levels, both of which are related to maintaining normal blood pressure,” experts enthuse. Bananas

Bananas are in season for the better part of the year, and they are affordable, too. Nutritionists say banana helps in reducing your risk of stroke and heart disease, what with the fact that of all fruits, it has the highest rate of potassium to sodium.

Irish potato also has this quality. “Eating one to two bananas a day, and eating potatoes can help restore blood sugar levels,” Hamzat assures.

Take life easy

Akande warns that even if anyone eats the best diet but remains in perpetual state of worrying and anxiety, she/he may still develop hypertension and die of it.

Akande says blood pressure can increase temporarily when you are stressed, hence the need to avoid situations, circumstances and environment that can stress you, as much as possible.

PUNCH.