Source: mirror.co.uk<\/p>\n
The country is facing a health crisis. From heart disease to high cholesterol, millions of Brits are developing life-shortening conditions \u2013 and they are often triggered by lifestyle choices. Our brilliant new series will help you reduce your risk and make vital changes \u2013 before it\u2019s too late. This week, Pat Hagan takes a closer look at hypertension<\/p>\n
As many as one in three adults in the UK has high\u00a0blood pressure, yet many are completely unaware that they have a problem.<\/p>\n
So it\u2019s little wonder this very common medical complaint \u2013 also known as hypertension \u2013 is often dubbed \u201cthe silent killer\u201d.<\/p>\n
Left untreated, it raises the risk of potentially fatal heart attacks and strokes and can also cause severe damage to the kidneys.<\/p>\n
Some people may suffer \u00ad\u00a0headaches\u00a0when their readings creep ever higher. But for millions, this deadly condition can remain hidden until it is picked up through routine checks or results in a medical emergency.<\/p>\n
Many could significantly reduce their risk of health problems by making simple changes to their diet and lifestyle, experts say.<\/p>\n
n the latest in the Your Health in Your Hands series, we look at what causes high blood pressure and the simple steps anyone can take to protect themselves against it.<\/p>\n
Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted on the walls of the arteries by blood flow. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood, putting it under added strain.<\/p>\n
High blood pressure \u2013 or hypertension \u2013 is a reading above 140\/90.<\/p>\n
The increased pressure also damages blood vessel walls, so they\u2019re prone to forming clots, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe higher your blood pressure, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood round the body,\u201d says Professor Naveed Sattar from Glasgow University\u2019s Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike any muscle, if the heart gets constantly overworked like this, it can become enlarged \u2013 leading to heart failure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heart failure occurs when the cardiac muscle, worn out by the extra \u00adworkload, becomes weak and floppy instead of strong and firm. It damages circulation and causes swelling of the limbs, \u00adbreathlessness and fatigue. In the very worst cases, patients can end up on the waiting list for a heart transplant.<\/p>\n
Some people are genetically prone to high blood pressure, while others still get it despite living a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n
But fatty, salty diets, too little exercise, stress, smoking and excess alcohol are the main contributory factors. Salt is a major problem because too much interferes with the ability of the kidneys to filter out excess water from the body. This fluid then circulates in the \u00adbloodstream, putting blood vessels \u2013 and therefore the heart \u2013 under increased pressure.<\/p>\n
But avoiding excess salt is not easy, as most of what we consume is already added to processed foods.<\/p>\n
However, Prof Sattar says adopting a healthy lifestyle from an early age can make a \u00adsignificant difference to cardiac risk later.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving lower blood pressure from a young age and maintaining that can protect against heart attacks and strokes. That means being active, eating fewer salty foods, cutting down on booze and maintaining a healthy weight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4830,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[298],"class_list":["post-4828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heart-care","tag-high-blood-pressure"],"yoast_head":"\n