Myths about blood Pressure debunked |
Continuation...
1. Myth: Now
I’ve high blood pressure. There’s nothing I can do about it.
Fact:
HBP is treatable. You simply need to embrace healthy lifestyle modifications, regular
light exercise like taking walks, losing weight (if needed), and medication.
2. Myth: HBP
comes from getting older.
Fact:
Factually, the risk of HBP can increase with age, but getting older does not
cause HBP. Rather HBP is a serious health condition that can come before you
get older and needs consistent monitoring and treatment.
3. Myth: Hypertension
is curable
Fact:
Currently, hypertension has no cure. Managing the condition is the only way to reduce
its effects on health.
Examples of changes that may help include:
· Consuming less alcohol
· Embracing only a healthy diet
· Doing regular light exercise
· Quitting smoking
· Managing stress
· Taking medication
· Maintaining a moderate weight
4. Myth: HBP is
more common in men.
Fact:
It depends on age. Hypertension is only more common in men before they turn 50.
For women, their risk of getting HBP increases after menopause and can even get
relatively higher. Taking birth control pills can be a risk factor for women
getting HBP. Women who develop HBP during pregnancy may have it thereafter.
5.
Myth:
The risk of getting hypertension is the same
for people of all races.
Fact:
The risk of developing HBP is higher in black adults than in all other races
and ethnicities. However, the reasons are not completely clear though experts attribute
to genetics and socioeconomic components.
6.
Myth:
I’m young, so I need not worry about
developing high blood pressure.
Fact:
Even though hypertension is more common amongst older people, young people are
not totally free from developing it. The older we get, the more our arteries
naturally stiffen, increasing the resistance within our arteries and increasing
blood pressure.
7. Myth: I’m taking
blood pressure medication, so I must not exercise or watch what I eat.
Fact:
People must embrace a healthy lifestyle while on high blood pressure medication
to keep away HBP. HBP medication alone is not enough to prevent a heart attack
or stroke. So, always take a heart-healthy diet and exercise!
8.
Myth:
My HBP went away after changing my diet
and embracing regular exercise. So, I don’t need to bother about it returning.
Fact:
Even if you eliminate HBP by diet changes, losing excess weight and increasing
physical activity, you must keep following those lifestyle changes to keep the
HBP away.
9.
Myth:
I have an active lifestyle, low body
weight, and take a healthy diet, so I don’t need to worry about developing HBP.
Fact:
People with a strong genetic tendency toward HBP can still develop the disease
despite having a low body weight, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. HBP
does always develop as a result of lifestyle factors.
10. Myth: Hypertension isn't a big deal
Fact: HBP is a
big deal because when it becomes severe, it can damage your blood vessels, heart
and cause kidney failure and stroke. HBP
also leads to heart disease and stroke, which are both the first and fifth leading
causes of death in the U.S.
Tackling the above
hypertension-related myths helps bring everyone in the society on the same page
when it comes to facing HBP risk factors head-on and working against them to
lower the infection rate.
Are you concerned about developing high blood
pressure or you already have it? Contact me here or on any of my social media
handles listed below to get help against high blood pressure.
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