Keeping blood pressure in check
ACCORDING to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, one in three Malaysian adults reportedly suffers from hypertension – or high blood pressure.
Higher blood pressure indicates that your heart is working too hard to pump blood to the rest of your body.
The high force of blood flow increases the workload of blood vessels, heart and other vital organs.
Over time, this extra strain increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, vision loss, kidney failure or erectile dysfunction.
Hypertension
Hypertension most likely occurs as you get older as ageing blood vessels gradually harden and become less flexible, which increases blood pressure.
Hereditary factors, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet with too much salt, stress, sleep apnoea and excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco also contribute to hypertension.
Healthy blood pressure
A healthy blood pressure reads between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg whereas a figure between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg indicates borderline high blood pressure or pre-hypertension.
Hypertension is when blood pressure is persistently elevated at 140/90mmHg or above.
Positive lifestyle changes
Making positive lifestyle changes is an important first step to controlling high blood pressure, as well as maintaining good health.
Taking nutritional supplements can also help bring down your numbers naturally.
L-arginine is an essential amino acid that converts into nitric oxide in the body, which may help to relax blood vessels and thereby improve circulation.
Meanwhile, casein hydrolysate has been shown to block angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which inhibits the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
Decreased levels of angiotensin II can prevent constriction of blood vessels and consequently lead to reduced blood pressure.
Other nutrients such as taurine, potassium, magnesium, acetyl L-carnitine, grape seed extract and coenzyme Q10 are also beneficial to help improve blood pressure.
Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices can help keep your numbers in control.
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