It has been observed that many of the heart problems of middle and old age such as high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, heart disease, and stroke results from the way a person has lived and what he ate, drank, and smoked when younger.
Many sicknesses could have been averted if parents, teachers and health workers adequately educate our youths about the food they eat and what they drink in their youthful age.
However in order to really understand this subject matter, we want to examine what High Blood Pressure is all about, signs of high blood pressure, what to do to prevent or care for high blood pressure, what fat people should know and do; and also advice younger persons who wants to stay healthy when they are older.
What is Blood Pressure? Blood pressure simply is the pressure exerted by the blood against the wall of the arteries and veins; it varies during the heartbeat cycle, and according to a person’s age, health and physical condition. High blood pressure results in heart failure, that is, reducing pumping efficiency of the heart, The Trumpet gathered.
High blood pressure can cause many problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. Fat people are especially likely to have high blood pressure. Signs of High Blood Pressure: (1.) Frequent headaches; (2.) Pounding of the heart and shortness of breath with mild exercise; (3.) Weakness and dizziness; (4.) Occasional pain in the left shoulder and chest. All these problems may also be caused by other diseases.
Therefore, if you suspects you have high blood pressure, you should see a health worker and have your blood pressure measured. What to do to prevent or care for High Blood Pressure: (1.) Overweight people should lose weight. To be very fat is not healthy.
Too much fat helps cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, gallstones, diabetes, arthritis in legs and feet, and other problems. Fat people should lose weight by: (1.) Not eating grease, fatty, or oily foods. (2.) Not eating sugar or sweet foods. (3.) Getting more exercise.
(4.) Not eating so much of anything, especially starchy foods, like corn, bread, potatoes, rice, yam, cassava. However, they can eat more fruit, vegetables, and lean meat.
To lose weight, fat people should eat only half of what they now eat. Another way to prevent or care for high blood pressure, is to avoid fatty foods especially pig fat, and foods with a lot of sugar or starch.
Always use good vegetables oil instead of pig fat. Food should be prepared and eaten with little or no salt. When your blood pressure is very high, the health worker may give you medicines to lower it. Many people can lower their blood pressure by losing weight if they are fat, and by learning to get enough rest.
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As earlier said that younger people should be educated on importance of lifestyle; therefore younger people who want to stay healthy when they are older should endeavor to: (1.) Eat well — enough nutritious foods, but not too much rich or greasy food. Avoid getting overweight or fat.
(2.) Do not drink a lot of alcoholic drinks. (3.) Do not smoke. (4.) Keep physically and mentally active. (5.) Try to get enough rest and sleep.
(6.) Learn how to relax and deal positively with things that worry or upset you. In a nutshell, High Blood Pressure and hardening of the arteries ( arteriosclerosis ), which is the main causes of heart disease and stroke, can usually be prevented or reduced by doing the things recommended above.
The lowering of high blood pressure is important in the prevention of heart disease and stroke. Persons who have high blood pressure should have it checked from time to time and take measures to lower it.
Finally, those who are not successful in lowering their blood pressure by eating less (if they are overweight), giving up smoking, getting more exercise, and learning to relax, should consult their doctor for medicines to lower blood pressure.
