If Anderson’s theory is right, it would offer another explanation for why hypertension is what he calls “a disease of civilization and a sedentary lifestyle.”
Meanwhile, health authorities recommend lowering blood pressure by making changes in your lifestyle including:
Eat healthy foods (low in fat and salt)
Quit smoking
Keep a healthy body weight
Get regular exercise
Cut down on alcohol
Risk factors for primary or essential hypertension*:
Age: Blood pressure tends to rise with age. About half of people over the age of 65 have high blood pressure.
Ethnicity: The incidence of high blood pressure is higher among members of some ethnic groups, such as South Asians, First Nations, Aboriginal Peoples or Inuit, and Black Canadians.
Family history: If one of your parents has high blood pressure, you have a 1 in 5 chance of developing the condition. If both of your parents have high blood pressure, your risk is 1 in 3.
Obesity: Excessive weight is a risk factor – especially if weight is stored around the abdomen.
Diabetes: People with diabetes are at increased risk for high blood pressure.
Stress: Repeated exposure to stress may raise blood pressure levels or contribute to unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol increases blood pressure.
Cigarette Smoking: Smoking may cause high blood pressure in certain individuals.
*Source: The Heart and Stroke Foundation
RELATED ARTICLES
Super foods that can change your life
Will your personality affect how long you live?
Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved – Fifty-Plus.Net International Inc.