Blood pressure is like a measure of how hard your heart is working to push blood through your body.
You can think of it like water flowing through a garden hose—the pressure helps move blood to your brain, kidneys, muscles, and all other organs.
When you check your blood pressure, you see two numbers. The first number is called systolic pressure, and the second number is called diastolic pressure. These numbers show the highest and lowest levels of pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats and then rests. A healthy blood pressure is around 120 over 80, written as 120/80 mmHg.
But sometimes, those numbers get too high. If your blood pressure goes above 130/80, it means you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
Why does this happen? There are different reasons. Some people inherit high blood pressure from their parents. Others get it because of daily habits—like eating too much salty food, sitting too much, or feeling too much stress. Medical problems like kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is dangerous because it often doesn’t make you feel sick, but it can still hurt your body. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. That’s why it’s called the “silent killer.” You might not know you have it unless you check your blood pressure regularly.
There is some good news from recent research. Scientists looked at data from many studies to see how to treat high blood pressure in people over 60. They found that lowering the top number of blood pressure (systolic) to below 130 can help older adults stay healthy.
This seems to lower the risk of heart problems. They also learned that while treatment helps, the type of treatment may not matter as much as just getting blood pressure to a healthy level.
If you want to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range, there are many simple things you can do. First, check it regularly, especially if it has been high before.
Keep your weight in a healthy range, because losing extra weight can lower your blood pressure. Eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, and try to eat less salt, sugar, and fatty food.
Exercise is also important. Try to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week—this could be walking, swimming, biking, or jogging.
If you smoke, quitting can improve your blood pressure and protect your heart. Drinking too much alcohol can raise your pressure, so keep it moderate. Managing stress through things like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can also help.
If lifestyle changes don’t work, your doctor might give you medicine to help. It’s important to follow their advice and keep track of how you feel.
Taking care of your blood pressure is very important, especially as you get older. By making small changes and staying aware of your health, you can avoid serious problems and enjoy a longer, healthier life.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that turmeric and vitamin D may boost blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes and scientists find link between blood pressure drugs and bowel diseases.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about high blood pressure treatment: ARBs vs. ACE inhibitors and blood pressure response to exercise can predict future heart disease.
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