An inflated level of blood pressure in the human body is one of the major causes of several cardiovascular diseases which quite often lead to death. Though heart attack is likely to happen in certain cases where there is a family history or you are at the post-menopausal age, however there are measures to control blood pressure levels which also reduce the possibility of heart diseases.
BP level in the body rises when blood vessels become congested due to accumulation of fat and cholesterol. This in turn puts pressure on heart which has to give more effort in order to pump enough blood to the vital organs. This raises the pressure levels in blood. Smoking and obesity also help in raising BP levels and a smoker with a high BP is more prone to sudden heart attack compared to a non smoker.
Regular exercise is the first thing that you must do if you want to maintain a normal BP level. Several studies have revealed that regular exercises complemented with a friendly diet reduce chances of high blood pressure in human body.
Reduced amount of salt intake also helps in maintaining normal BP levels. It is sodium which plays a crucial role in regulating body fluids and a high sodium intake raises the blood pressure level. The risk is all the more for people with an ancestral history of hypertension.
Nicotine, present in cigarettes is another source of cardiovascular diseases. This chemical causes contraction of the blood vessels which in turn inflates blood pressure. So it is always advisable to quit smoking which not only lowers the probability of heart disease but also prevents cancer. Again, a non smoker can well maintain a normal BP if his or her alcohol intake is low and restricted.
Finally, maintaining a modified diet with low fat, less of sweets and red meat but consisting of several natural fruits and vegetables reduces the chance of suffering from abnormal blood pressure.
