WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?
Hypertension Explained
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of the body. Normally, blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. However, if it stays high for a long time, it can damage your heart and lead to other health problems such as heart disease and strokes. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Each stage of hypertension is listed below:
MANAGING HYPERTENSION
Lifestyle Changes
- Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in sodium
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Enjoy regular physical activity
- Manage stress
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Take your medications properly
DASH Diet
The acronym “DASH” stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This diet provides guidance on types of foods to include in your daily diet as well as key nutrients to incorporate or minimize. This diet is plant-focused, meaning it is rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean meats, fish, poultry, whole grains, nuts, legumes and heart-healthy fats. Recommended servings per day of each of these food groups is included in the visual below. Additionally, limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg and restricting added sugar intake is recommended. This diet allows each person to plan their own daily menus based on the allowed servings of each food group.
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