High blood pressure is something that should always be taken seriously. It has a greater prevalence among middle aged people and older, but it can even affect people under the age of 30, too. We hear a lot about managing blood pressure, but we never seem to hear much about actually curing it. Is it possible to cure high blood pressure?
Can high blood pressure be cured? | Monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images
High blood pressure is caused by several factors, including eating habits, exercise habits, and genetics
High blood pressure affects roughly 1 in 3 adults in the United States, and it can strike as early as your 20s. It happens when there is too much pressure on your artery walls, causing them to thicken. Over time, the walls thicken to the point where they cause blockage. This is what leads to further heart problems, such as a heart attack. The causes of high blood pressure aren’t always cut and dry. But if you have a family history of the disease, it could definitely play a role in the likelihood that you’ll get it. Plus, the type of lifestyle you lead is a major contributing factor. A diet high in salt combined with a lack of exercise is a recipe for high blood pressure. If you constantly eat fast food or salty food, you’re upping your risk of heart disease. And if you fail to work out at least 150 minutes each week (or 75 minutes if it’s more rigorous exercise), you’re also increasing your risk.
It’s not always easy to get your high blood pressure under control, but medication and lifestyle changes can help
If you visit the doctor and learn you have high blood pressure, it isn’t the end of the world. After all, simply catching it already gives you the upper hand. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will recommend making lifestyle changes that can lower it, such as adopting healthier eating habits and taking a walk every day to get some exercise. Your doctor might also suggest blood pressure medication, which can help keep your levels normal.
But for most people, high blood pressure does not have a cure
In most cases, you can’t cure high blood pressure. There are some exceptions, though, such as blood pressure caused by an underlying medical condition. If there is a curable problem, such as an issue with the kidneys that can be fixed, then your blood pressure might be curable. But if you have high blood pressure due to your own lifestyle habits, once you have it, it’s there to stay. Luckily, there are many ways to manage it, such as the diet, exercise, and medication that was previously discussed. If you discover high blood pressure early on, you can get on top of it and live a normal life. You may be able to make lifestyle adjustments and not even need medication. The longer you wait to check, though, the thicker those artery walls may become. If you know you have high blood pressure, you can buy in-home blood pressure monitors. This will make it easy to keep track of your condition.
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