April 26th is National Day to combat High Blood Pressure! Find out a little more about this silent disease that affects around 24.4% of Brazilians.
Hypertension is when the pressure that the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries is very strong, exceeding values considered normal.
A person is considered hypertensive when their blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg (or 14 by 9). If left untreated, it can cause strokes, heart diseases such as heart attack, heart failure (heart enlargement) and angina (chest pain), kidney failure and blindness.
People who are overweight, don't have a healthy diet, eat a lot of salt, don't practice physical activity, drink a lot of alcohol, are diabetic or have hypertensive family members are at greater risk of becoming hypertensive. After age 55, the chances of developing hypertension increase 90%.
Are you hypertensive or want to prevent it?
- Measure your pressure regularly
- Reduce the amount of salt in your food – 1 teaspoon per day is enough. Do not use a salt shaker at the table.
- Reduce or stop drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Practice physical activity regularly. Take walks, take stairs instead of elevators, ride a bike, swim, dance!
- Do not smoke! After hypertension, smoking is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Control your stress! Face problems with wisdom and calm.
- Have a healthy diet
