HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SYMPTOMS, SIGNS AND RISK FACTORS

Understanding high blood pressure symptoms, signs and risk factors can alert you to the possibility that you have hypertension which is often a precursor to heart problems. Signs of heart problems and hypertension symptoms are often overlooked by 30% of the population.

Hypertension is an extremely common form of cardiovascular disease. It usually results from a decrease in the elasticity or a reduction in the interior diameter of the arteries or both, which may be caused by arteriosclerosis, defects in sodium metabolism, stress, nutritional deficiencies and/or enzyme imbalances.

Many risk factors for high blood pressure, as listed below, are lifestyle related and can be decreased through making some daily lifestyle changes such as eating more heart healthy foods.
Research shows that even a 10% decrease in your weight can have a significant affect on lowering your blood pressure.

High blood pressure is not a death sentence, it is merely a sign that what you are doing on a daily basis is not working for you!

Lifestyle changes in daily diet , stress levels, sodium intake, exercise, alcohol and caffeine consumption etc. are clearly needed.

See a heart healthy diet plan to get more tips and help you get started on an action plan to reduce your high blood pressure.

Hypertension risk factors include:

1) Family history of heart disease
2) Kidney disease
3) Hyperthyroidism
4) Pituitary or Adrenal Gland disorders
5) Diabetes
6) Arteriosclerosis
7) Cigarette smoking
8) You have already had a heart attack or stroke
9) High blood cholesterol levels
10) Overweight/obesity ( BMI index reading above 26)
11) Poor diet(high in saturated and trans fat, low in fibre)
12) Increased and uncontrolled stress and anxiety
13) Excessive use of stimulants: coffee/tea, drug abuse, alcohol,caffeinated soft drinks
14) High sodium intake (primarily found in cold cuts, fast foods, tinned products, salt)
15) Inactivity:(sedentary lifestyle)
16) Age (the older you are the more likely you are to develop heart disease)

EARLY DETECTION IS CRITICAL:IF YOU HAVE TWO OR MORE OF THESE RISK FACTORS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND REVIEW POSSIBLE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SYMPTOMS LISTED BELOW

High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms until complications develop, this is why it is called the "silent killer". Almost half of people with hypertension aren't aware because there are no obvious signs or symptoms in the initial stages.

Here are some classic symptoms of high blood pressure:

Recent research also indicates that people with hypertension often have the following high blood pressure symptoms::

Suffer from sleep apnea: Sleep Apnea is where people actually stop breathing for ten seconds or more throughout the night. Apnea is associated with loud snoring and restless sleep and can cause the individual to feel excessively sleepy during the day. Evaluation and treatment of sleep apnea may help reduce blood pressure.

Salt sensitive: About 58% of people with hypertension symptoms are salt sensitive. Salt causes water retention which can exert pressure on the blood vessels. A low sodium//salt diet is always recommended.

Magnesium deficiency: Researchers at the State University of New York found that the lower the level of magnesium in the body, the higher the blood pressure. This double blind placebo controlled study showed that supplementation with magnesium can result in reduction of blood pressure and high blood pressure symptoms.
This study makes perfect sense since magnesium maintains normal heart rythm and muscular contraction and your heart is, of course, your most important muscle.
Another USDA estimated that 75% of the American population have a magnesium deficiency. It is easy to tell if you are low in magnesium since your body will exhibit magnesium deficiency symptoms, such as, muscle twitching and cramps, inability to 'relax' and even cravings for chocolate.

There are many researchers that believe, as I do, that cardiovascular disease is primarily due to a deficiency of this essential mineral.

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