6. General information about blood pressure
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is built up by the heart: the heart muscle contracts and blood is being forced into the blood vessels (systolic pressure) - the heart muscle extends and the heart is filled with blood again (diastolic pressure).
Nutrition and body weight
Healthy nutrition is important to reduce high blood pressure. Fewer salt and less fat food help to tackle high blood pressure. A reduction of significant over-weight is an important contribution to diminish blood pressure.
Physical exercise
Frequent exercises help to reduce high blood pressure. Stamina training is favourable, strength events may be precarious. If your blood pressure is very high, sports should not be done without consultation of the physician, as strain instantly increases blood pressure.
White coat syndrome
Many persons are nervous if they visit a physician and react tense in this situation. This increases blood pressure – this phenomenon is called "white coat syndrome". Blood pressure values taken under such conditions are too high and feign a hypertension that does not exist under normal circumstances.
Consequences of high blood pressure
High blood pressure may lead to:
- heart attack
- stroke
- hardened arteries
- heart disease