Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases and a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Hypertension is generally divided into two main types: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension, and the number of patients with hypertension is significant regardless of the type.
In recent years, the trend of younger hypertensive patients in China has been increasing steadily. Especially among middle-aged and young people, the prevalence of hypertension is higher than in the elderly. This chronic disease has become a health killer for our people. Currently, there is no cure. We can only take antihypertensive medication based on our own lifestyle habits and maintain stable blood pressure.
In fact, hypertension itself is not frightening; what is frightening are its complications: it can trigger cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases as well as cerebral thrombotic diseases, bringing about a host of problems.
If you want to control sudden spikes in blood pressure, you must adhere to good lifestyle habits, reduce unhealthy habits, engage in appropriate exercise, and maintain a balanced diet to help improve your blood pressure.
Classification of Hypertension
If hypertension is classified and graded according to the 2018 “Chinese Hypertension Prevention and Treatment Guidelines,” it is graded based on the level of blood pressure, with a total of three levels, detailed as follows:
1. Grade 1 Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140mmHg but less than 159mmHg, while diastolic pressure is between 90-99mmHg.
2. Grade 2 Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 160mmHg but less than 179mmHg, and diastolic pressure, or the lower pressure, should be greater than or equal to 100mmHg but less than 109mmHg.
3. Grade 3 Hypertension: This is severe hypertension, with systolic pressure ≥180mmHg and diastolic pressure ≥110mmHg.
This is the current classification standard for hypertension levels in China.
What Are the Causes of Hypertension?
Hypertension is a chronic disease that is very common among middle-aged and elderly populations, with statistics indicating that one out of every three adults may be a hypertensive patient. Because this disease has a long course and is easily prone to relapse during treatment, it directly affects the daily life of patients and can lead to a series of complications. Therefore, to prevent and treat hypertension, it is crucial to identify the causes.
1. Genetic factors: 30%-50% of hypertensive patients have a family history of genetic predisposition.
2. Psychological and environmental factors: Blood pressure tends to rise under conditions of tension, anxiety, or anger.
3. Age factor: With increasing age, the incidence of hypertension also rises annually.
4. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, high sodium, low potassium diet, and poor dietary control.
5. Medication factors: The use of drugs such as hormones can raise blood pressure.
“Hypertension King” Discovered, Celery Exaggerated, Doctors Say: Stick with Eating Celery and Blood Pressure May Slowly Drop
Ever since people discovered the health benefits of celery, it has become a favorite in the health industry. It is well known that celery can lower blood fats, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Additionally, it is a low-calorie, high-fiber leafy vegetable.
The active ingredient in celery, apigenin, can widen blood vessel diameter upon entering the body, ensuring smooth blood circulation and reducing the impact pressure of blood vessels on the blood vessel walls, thereby aiding in lowering blood pressure and blood fats.
However, experts have found that celery is not the best vegetable for combating hypertension; the real “hypertension combat king” may be the following foods:
1. Garlic
Garlic has an assisting effect in lowering blood pressure but cannot replace antihypertensive medications. This assisting effect is relatively weak and requires long-term adherence. Allicin in garlic can inhibit endothelial cells, increase nitric oxide concentration, block cell calcium ion channels, dilate vascular smooth muscle, and lower blood pressure.
Garlic can also inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver, providing some assistance in reducing blood lipids. Hypertensive patients can consume raw garlic regularly for beneficial effects on the body.
2. Bitter Gourd
Bitter gourd contains rich dietary fiber, which maintains normal blood vessel elasticity and has a certain hypotensive effect. Bitter gourd contains trace elements and vitamins, which are effective for reducing blood pressure, primarily facilitating blood lipid metabolism.
Bitter gourd has a certain assisting effect in lowering blood pressure and is a vegetable with significant medicinal value, aiding in weight loss, sugar reduction, and lipid lowering. By reducing body weight and managing blood lipids and blood sugar, it also helps in blood pressure management.
3. Onion
Onion can lower blood pressure due to the presence of a substance called prostaglandin A. This substance can dilate blood vessels, reduce blood viscosity, thus lowering blood lipids and blood pressure. Moreover, it increases coronary artery blood flow and indirectly prevents thrombosis.
Rich in potassium and folic acid, among other trace elements, onions are beneficial for the body, stimulating appetite, aiding digestion, preventing constipation, and benefiting hypertension.
4. Black Fungus
Black fungus plays a certain auxiliary therapeutic role in lowering blood pressure. Rich in various elements, especially calcium ions, and multiple nutrients, black fungus can assist in treating hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
In addition to foods that can lower blood pressure, “drinking tea” can also reduce blood pressure
1. Pu’er Tea: Pu’er tea contains a certain amount of tea polyphenols, which can effectively expand peripheral circulation, leading to a slight decline in blood pressure, thereby improving blood pressure among hypertensive patients.
2. Chrysanthemum and Hawthorn Tea: These teas have the effect of lowering blood pressure and are beneficial for one’s spleen and stomach. They are also great choices for individuals dealing with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, including cerebral thrombotic diseases.
3. Lotus Leaf Tea: Lotus leaf tea has the properties of relieving heat, detoxification, and expanding blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
4. Locust Flower Tea: Locust flowers can also dilate blood vessels, so regular consumption can lower blood pressure.
5. Kudzu Root Tea: Kudzu root has a significant circulatory improvement effect. For hypertensive patients, especially those experiencing dizziness and headaches, drinking kudzu root tea can significantly alleviate symptoms and lower blood pressure.
In addition to these teas, there are others like chrysanthemum tea and honeysuckle tea, which, when consumed regularly, have certain detoxifying and circulation-improving effects, aiding in lowering blood pressure.
What Should Hypertensive Patients Pay Attention to in Diet?
To stabilize blood pressure, hypertensive patients must cultivate good dietary and lifestyle habits.
1. Firstly, quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption. Patients with smoking and alcohol habits may suffer from heart attacks due to excessive smoking and alcohol consumption.
2. Consume potassium-rich foods. Potassium in the body can buffer sodium. Potassium-rich foods include soybeans, adzuki beans, tomatoes, zucchini, celery, fresh mushrooms, various green leafy vegetables, and fruits like oranges, apples, bananas, pears, kiwi fruits, persimmons, pineapples, walnuts, and watermelons.
3. Consume foods rich in high-quality proteins and vitamins, such as fish, milk, lean meat, eggs, legumes, and legume products.
4. Eat three meals a day at regular intervals and quantities, avoiding overeating or skipping meals.
5. Hypertensive patients must reduce salt intake in their diets, ensuring that daily salt consumption stays below six grams is ideal. Excessive salt intake can further exacerbate high blood pressure since the sodium ions in salt easily lead to water and sodium retention in blood vessel interiors.
