First Aid for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (HBP), also known as hypertension, is exactly what the name suggests. It is a high reading of blood pressure that is equal to or more than 130/80.

Having hypertension puts you at incredible risk for stroke and heart attack, which makes it important that you know how to apply first aid for high blood pressure. 

When Are You Considered Hypertensive?

Hypertension begins at a systolic reading of 130 mmHg and diastolic readings of 80 to 90 mmHg.

• Stage 1 hypertension. Readings are 130 – 139 mmHg for systolic and 80 – 89 mmHg for diastolic.
• Stage 2 hypertension. Readings of 140/90 mmHg and above

Blood pressure readings are expected to vary throughout the day. This means that it takes multiple visits and multiple measurements for someone to be diagnosed with hypertension. The doctor may also request an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring where your blood pressure is monitored within a 24-hour period.

First Aid and Emergencies

The thing about first aid for high blood pressure is that it is largely focused on seeking medical attention when needed.

To know when your blood pressure is spiking, you must monitor and read your blood pressure at regular intervals at home. Most forms of immediate treatment for high blood pressure come as prescribed medicine since there is no instantaneous remedy to high blood pressure.

So if you are wondering how to lower blood pressure instantly in an emergency, your best bet is calling emergency responders immediately. 

This is the ideal response especially if you have the symptoms of either a heart attack or a stroke.

These symptoms include pain or pressure in the:

• Chest
• Back
• Head
• Neck and jaw
• Upper belly
• Shoulders
• Arms

This may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms like:

• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness or light headedness
• Vomiting
• Hyperventilation
• Vision changes
• Sudden numbness or tingling

Good Habits and Maintenance

Taking Maintenance Medicine

One of the most sustainable and effective ways of avoiding and living with high blood pressure is being diligent with medication. Maintenance medicine needs to be taken as prescribed because once you stop, your blood pressure goes back up. In taking medication, take it exactly as prescribed by a healthcare professional and be safe.

Regular Exercise

Exercising also helps keep your blood pressure down. Engaging in 30 minutes to an hour of movement 5 times a week is the key to healthy living; this helps enhance your strength, mood, and balance as well.

What’s more, this reduces risks for heart disease and diabetes which may be elevated due to hypertension.

Avoiding Stress

Stress raises your blood pressure for certain durations and the more often or constantly you’re stressed, the longer these periods of time last. Hence, aiming for an active, stress-free lifestyle is the goal when living with hypertension.

Change in Diet and Lifestyle

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet which has been proven to lower one’s high blood pressure by as much as 11 mmHg systolic.

This diet focuses on:

• Whole grains
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Low-fat alternatives
• Lean meat
• Nuts
• Fish

Cutting back on saturated fat found in processed food, full-fat dairy, and fatty meat, as well as sweetened beverages, also help in addressing hypertension and reducing diabetes risks.

Lowering Salt Intake

Using salt sparingly in your diet is vital in lowering blood pressure because sodium intake causes the body to retain fluid that then causes blood pressure to spike. According to the AHA, 1.5 – 2.5 grams of salt per day is ideal so instead of adding salt, use herbs and spices in your food.  

Losing Weight

Achieving a healthier BMI can also help lower your blood pressure but what’s more important is losing your visceral fat, which is the fat deposit along your waistline. Visceral fat surrounds vital organs in your abdominal area which causes complications including high blood pressure.

Stop Smoking

Quitting smoking would also be beneficial for lowering your blood pressure since cigarettes raise your blood pressure temporarily in the duration you are smoking and shortly after. The more you smoke, the longer that duration is. Smoking also puts you in danger of heart attack and stroke, which are also related to high blood pressure.

Limiting Alcohol Consumption

Regulating your intake of alcohol to one to two drinks a day would be ideal since alcohol is known to reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications. Feel free to have some red wine occasionally since it could bring heart benefits in moderation.

Learn more about Healthy Habits here. 

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