High blood pressure is the silent killer. High blood pressure doesn’t usually have very prominent symptoms. That’s why it often goes unnoticed by those affected—and their doctors.
A Mayo Clinic article explains, “You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels, and your heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.” Just because you don’t have any symptoms doesn’t mean that damage isn’t being done.
Doctors are just learning about the dangers of developing high blood pressure at an early age. Untreated hypertension at early ages can lead to artery stiffening, which can increase the risk of stroke, kidney damage, and brain damage.
Factors that contribute to high blood pressure in young people
The exact causes of high blood pressure are unknown, but there are a few factors that may play a role, including:
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Lack of aerobic exercise
- Too much sodium consumption
- Too much alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Genetics
- Family history of high blood pressure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Adrenal and thyroid disorders
How to treat high blood pressure in young people
Lifestyle changes make the biggest and longest-lasting impact on young people with hypertension. Modifying diet and exercise are two of the best ways to combat high blood pressure.
1.Diet
Your diet makes a significant impact on your health. Especially on your heart health. How much you eat is even more important than what you eat. Watch your portions. Use a small bowl for higher-calorie foods and a larger plate for your lower-calorie foods like fruits and vegetables.
Choose vegetables, fruits, and whole grains as the base of your meal. Then add healthy proteins and fats like fish, chicken, beans, eggs, avocado, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
Eating a lot of sodium is very detrimental to your heart health. Most of the sodium in your diet isn’t from adding table salt to your food but is found in canned and processed foods like ready-to-eat meals, soups, baked goods, and frozen dinners.
Try out supplements like HeartBeet Complete to add some extra nutrients in your diet!
2.Exercise
The American Heart Association recommends exercising for half an hour five days a week. The kind of activity can vary, but it should be moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Try walking or jogging a few times a week! Or try out a fun exercise class like Zumba or High Fitness. Find an activity that you like doing, and just do it!
Conclusion
The dangers of developing high blood pressure at an early age are serious! Prevention is the easiest way to avoid it!
