Worried about high BP? These are the "modifiable" risk factors, experts say

The normal range of blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg.

The blood pressure is said to be high when the reading is higher than the normal range. The blood pressure is elevated when the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.

One should be very careful about the blood pressure and should take note of the risk factors that spike it.

Of the several factors that increase the risk of developing high blood pressure many are modifiable in nature.

Here we will discuss all those modifiable factors and how they can be managed to lower BP:

Diet plays an important role in keeping the blood pressure under control.

Unhealthy eating habits like consuming excessive salt, having a diet rich in saturated fat and trans fats, and not having enough seasonal fruits and vegetables are one of the leading causes of high blood pressure.

In order to keep the blood pressure under control, one needs to be watchful of their diet.

Having good cooking oil, healthy fats like ghee, eating lots of fruits, and minimizing salt intake can reduce the risk of BP.

There have been several studies and research work done on the importance of physical activity on cardiovascular health.

Physical inactivity is one of the main reasons why incidences of heart attacks are rising these days.

Studies recommend walking 10,000 steps daily for good health. Few studies also recommend doing 150 minutes of workout in a week.

However, depending on your health and other health issues you have to plan a good workout routine for yourself.

Alcohol and tobacco consumption have individual effects as well as synergistic effects on hypertension.

"Both alcohol and smoking share a common mechanism for the onset of hypertension as a single factor in that they both stimulate the sympathetic nervous system," a study titled "Effects of Alcohol Consumption and Smoking on the Onset of Hypertension in a Long-Term Longitudinal Study in a Male Workers’ Cohort" has said. More than 7,500 non-hypertensive male workers were enrolled for this study.

Obesity is also a reason for the onset of hypertension in individuals.

"Carrying too much weight puts an extra strain on your heart and circulatory system that can cause serious health problems. It also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure," the American Heart Association explains.

Obesity, especially being overweight due to visceral adiposity, is associated with hypertension.

Onset of hypertension due to stress is being seen in most cases these days. Stress has a lingering effect on the internal health and does not show symptoms all of a sudden.

"Also, too much stress can encourage behaviors that increase blood pressure, such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and using tobacco or drinking alcohol more than usual," explains American Heart Association.

Apart from these factors, there are several other reasons why blood pressure increases.

These non-modifiable risk factors are age, existing health conditions like diabetes or kidney disease.

To help deal with high BP which happens due to these factors, please consult your doctor and take appropriate medications for the same.

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