Dear Alice,
I'm a 30 year old male finishing graduate school (PhD) who has just
been diagnosed with case of hypertension. My blood pressure is 140-100. I
think that's rather high. I've been feeling under the clouds the last
couple of weeks, started with a flu that has since progressed into a cold---My throat has a lot of "flame?" (Probably wrong spelling) and I think it's caused by an allergic reaction to rag weed which I'm allergic to. Coupled with other stresses in life, I guess I'm kinda weak and depre
ssed. My question is, what should I do? The doctor said I should change
my diet--less salt and fat. Will exercise help and is the high blood
pressure a temporary thing?---perhaps when I feel better and the stresses are gone, my blood pressure will come ba
ck to normal. I'm not overweight--5ft 9in and 160lbs (maybe a bit overweight) but I do have very bad eating habits. I also have a family history of hypertension. Please help----advice on diet, etc. I am tired of feeling weak. Thanks.
TENSE
Dear TENSE,
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. High blood pressure exists when the level of pressure inside the blood vessels is high. Your heart, nervous system, kidneys, and the size of your small blood vessels together determine the level
of pressure in your arteries. For 95% of people with high blood pressure, the cause is not known. Medical science has learned how to control it, but has not discovered the cause of most hypertension.
Doctors, scientists, and researchers have identified the following steps for adults to lower their risks of inducing or perpetuating hypertension:
Identify and find working outlets for your stress. Most doctoral students are experiencing a pretty high stress level. Exercise, relaxation, and deep breathing are good starts to regaining your energy and feeling good. (Be careful not to equate hyperte
nsion with tension, though. Being tense or uptight can cause your blood pressure to go up temporarily, but does not cause hypertension.)
Your doctor was right--try avoiding salty foods including processed
meats, salted snack foods, canned soups, and most cheeses. Restaurant
food usually uses more salt (and sometimes MSG) than is healthy. If you
can cook at home, use little added salt.
Reducing sodium intake may help curb your fluid retention, which reduces
your blood volume, and, thus, your blood pressure.
Lower your saturated fat intake, which is especially high in animal
meats, dairy products, and nuts. Lowering your saturated fats prevents
your heart from having to pump through a larger system.
An individual's blood pressure can vary greatly, so a series of blood
pressure readings over a few weeks is usually used to diagnose
hypertension. Working with your doctor and a nutritionist (available at
Health Services by calling x4-2284), getting your pressure
taken regularly, and discussing strategies that have and have not been
successful for you will create the greatest long-term benefits to your
health.
- Alice
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Hypertension
