Blood Pressure

 

The number-one risk factor for death in the world (according to the Global Burden of Disease Study, the most comprehensive and systematic analysis of the causes of death ever undertaken) is high blood pressure. Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure reportedly lays waste to nine million people worldwide every year. It kills so many people because it may contribute to deaths from a variety of causes, including aneurysms, heart attacks,  heart failure ,  kidney failure , and  stroke .

Increased blood pressure may put a strain on the heart and damage the sensitive blood vessels in our eyes and kidneys, cause bleeding in the brain, and even lead certain arteries to balloon and rupture. The fact that hypertension is able to damage so many organ systems and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, two of our leading killers, explains why it is the number-one killer risk factor worldwide.

                                                      

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is common in people with diabetes.

Reports from 2012 show that high blood pressure affects 50% of people with diabetes.

Blood pressure is important as it is linked with a higher risk of diabetes complications.

The symptoms of blood pressure may not show unless blood pressure becomes very high and so it is important that your blood pressure level is checked each year.

TARGET BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS

The first number in a blood pressure reading is known as the  systolic  reading, which is the pressure of your blood when your heart beats.

The second number is the  diastolic  reading, which is the blood pressure between heart beats.

The  blood pressure targets set by NICE  are slightly different depending on your  type of diabetes .

• Type 1 diabetes  : Below  135/85 mmHg

If you have  diabetic nephropathy  (kidney disease) or two signs of metabolic syndromen, the target is  130/80 mmHg

• Type 2 diabetes:  Below  140/80 mmHg

If you have nephropathy,  retinopathy  or have cerebrovascular disease (which includes stroke) the target is  130/80 mmHg

The NHS regards an  ideal blood pressure  reading as being below  120 / 80mmHg

The  target  is to get your blood pressure below both of these numbers.

SYMPTOMS

The NHS notes that high blood pressure is a 'silent killer' as there are often no obvious  high blood pressure symptoms .

However, very high blood pressure could result in:

• Headaches
• Nosebleed
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty breathing

Food Items To Control Blood Pressure 

1. - Bananas:  There is a high content of potassium in bananas, which helps to manage hypertension . Intake of potassium in our diet leads to the reduction of the effects of sodium and makes tension less severe.     
2. - Beet Juice:  Beet contains a high amount of inorganic nitrate , which helps in the reduction of blood pressure or hypertension 
3. - Berries:  Strawberries and blueberries contain compounds that are antioxidant in nature, known as anthocyanins lead to an 8 percent reduction in their level of blood pressure.
4. - Dark Chocolate:  Dark Chocolates which is rich in cocoa helps people to get their blood pressure level reduced and hence also assists them in getting rid of hypertension.
5. - Watermelon:  Watermelon has amino acid known as citrulline, which helps to manage high blood pressure.
6. Oats :  Oats have a kind of fiber known as beta-glucan, which helps to reduce the level of cholesterol as well as high blood pressure.
7. Leafy Green Vegetables:  Vegetables like cabbage , fennel , kale have a rich content of nitrates, which help in managing blood pressure.  
8. Garlic :  Garlic contains allicin, which helps to increase the production of nitric oxide in bodies and in turn dilute the blood vessels.
9. Kiwi :  Daily intake of kiwi can assist in reducing blood pressure among people, who suffer from moderate levels of high blood pressure problem
10. Fermented Foods:  Fermented foods have a rich content of probiotics, hence play an important role in maintaining gut health.
11. Lentils and Other Kinds of Pulses:  Lentils are a great source of vegetarian protein and fiber, which also result in reducing blood pressure.  
12. Natural Yogurt:  Yogurt has a high chance of reducing the level of blood pressure among women, as per the American Heart Association.
13. Pomegranates:  If people, suffering from the problem of high blood pressure, drink 1 cup of pomegranate juice on a daily basis for 28 days, blood pressure gets reduced for the short-term.
14. Cinnamon :  Consuming Cinnamon in your diet can reduce systolic blood pressure by 5.39 mm Hg and Diastolic Blood Pressure by 2.6 mm Hg.
15. Pistachios:  Pistachios helps to decrease hypertension and the existence of a particular compound in it can reduce the tightness of blood vessels.