It is called the "silent evil" because those affected usually do not experience any manifestations. However, uncontrolled high blood pressure can have serious health consequences. What are the factors contributing to hypertension and how can you prevent it?
Hypertension: what are we talking about?
It is the most common chronic disease in France . One in three French adults is hypertensive . Arterial hypertension is when your blood pressure is too high . The blood exerts too much pressure on the walls of the vessels, which weakens them and can in the long run cause cardiovascular problems .
According to the Haute Autorité de Santé: “ It is defined by a persistent elevation of systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg.” 1
Systolic blood pressure is the maximum blood pressure, measured when the heart ejects blood to the organs. Diastolic blood pressure is measured when blood pressure is at its lowest, when the heart is at rest between two contractions.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of hypertension.
- Essential or primary arterial hypertension (90% of cases) is linked to a set of factors such as heredity, age or lifestyle.
- Secondary hypertension is caused by an identified disease (kidney problem, diabetes, etc.).
There are several stages of hypertension, depending on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values measured 2 :
| hypertension stage 1 | SBP > 140-159 and/or DBP > 90-99 mmHg |
| hypertension stage 2 | SBP > 160 and/or DBP > 100 mmHg |
| Stage 3 hypertension known as “severe” | SBP > 180 and/or DBP > 110 mmHg |
What are the risk factors?
A set of factors, now clearly identified, play an important role in the increase in blood pressure. This is particularly the case with tobacco, chronic stress, overweight, physical inactivity and excessive salt consumption. Age is also a major factor. As the years go by, the walls of the arteries become more and more rigid . This loss of elasticity leads to an increase in pressure as blood passes through the vessels.
Some people are also more at risk of being affected by hypertension, especially men and women after menopause 3 . At this time of their life, they no longer benefit from the protective effect of estrogen, the level of which in the body drops considerably.
Finally, certain medications can promote high blood pressure . Consumed in excess, certain products such as alcohol or licorice can have the same effect.
How to prevent hypertension?
For so-called "primary" hypertension, ie 9 cases out of 10, without a specific cause, all the risk factors mentioned must be taken into account. Some are not changeable, such as age, gender, or family history. However, there are still many variables on which it is possible to act to prevent hypertension, by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
- Reduce the amount of salt in the diet, in particular by limiting prepared meals and canned foods (the DASH diet is recommended in case of hypertension)
- Stop smoking if you are a smoker
- Limit the consumption of alcohol and licorice
- Practice regular physical activity with an intensity adapted to your physical condition
- Lose weight if your BMI is over 25
- get enough sleep
- Manage chronic stress through various relaxation practices such as meditation, diaphragmatic breathing or cardiac coherence
- Adopt a diversified diet , rich in fruits and vegetables, in fresh and raw products, without too much fat.
The TENSIONAT dietary supplement promotes normal blood pressure. Thanks to its unique combination of 2 plants known for their benefits on blood pressure: the olive tree and the hibiscus .
