Identifying high blood pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. It is essential to monitor high BP as it puts a strain on your organs and raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
One of the most dangerous things about hypertension is that you may not know you have it. This is because it hardly has any symptoms, until the condition becomes too severe. The best way to identify high blood pressure is to regularly monitor it. You can also check it at home.
If your blood pressure is too high, there could be certain symptoms to look out for and get checked from a doctor. One if these can be detected from the eyes.
Red spots in eyes
Red spots at the front of your eyes could be a sign of high blood pressure. These could be caused by broken blood vessels. It is best to get your eyes checked especially if they remain red for some time.
High blood pressure can also lead to complications with vision. It can lead to a condition called hypertensive retinopathy, in which the walls of blood vessels thicken and restrict blood flow. The retina can also become swollen and the blood vessels can leak.
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Other symptoms of high blood pressure
Apart from signs in the eyes, other symptoms of high BP include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Blood in urine
- Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears
- Severe headaches
- Nosebleed
- Fatigue
Risk factors
It is important to know about the factors that can put you at a risk of high blood pressure. If you have any of these, try to take precaution measures accordingly to prevent high BP in the first place.
If you are overweight or do not do enough exercise, then you could be at a higher risk of having high blood pressure. Eating too much salt and not eating enough fruit and vegetables also puts you at risk. Other risk factors include drinking too much alcohol or coffee and smoking. Older age such as being over 65 and having a family history of high blood pressure means you should take preventive measures to avoid having high BP. Not getting enough sleep or having a disturbed sleep may also put you at risk.
Measuring blood pressure
Blood pressure is measured by two numbers – the systolic pressure, which is the higher number and diastolic pressure, which is the lower number.
High blood pressure is considered when your readings are 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or higher. Or if you're over the age of 80, then 150/90mmHg or higher is considered too high blood pressure.
It is important to note that the Ideal blood pressure is usually considered between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Keep a regular check on your BP levels and take the necessary steps to stay in the ideal range.
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Tips to reduce high BP
Here are some healthy and practical lifestyle modification tips to reduce your high blood pressure levels and become healthier.
- Reduce the amount of salt you eat
- Eat a healthy diet consisting of natural, local and seasonal foods
- Stop or cut back on alcohol consumption
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Remember to exercise everyday
- Reduce caffeine consumption
- Quit smoking