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The first thing a person with hypertension is usually asked to do is regulate their salt intake. And while excessive sodium consumption certainly doesn’t help, there are many other foods and reasons why your blood pressure stays above the desired level. The worst part is that we take them for granted in our daily lives.For this reason, being aware of the causes and identifying the omnipresent foods in our kitchens helps us to prevent not only high blood pressure, but also other cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
In Falls Church, VA, CareLife Medical has a compassionate team always ready to provide hypertensive patients with appropriate and professional health care.
About Hypertension
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a chronic condition that forces the heart to work harder than normal to supply blood to different parts of the body. Blood pressure is considered high when the upper and lower readings are above 140/90 mmHg, respectively.
Unfortunately, high blood pressure is a fairly common and silent disease. In the United States alone, about 120 million people suffer from hypertension. Many of them are unaware of the seriousness of this condition. It’s not uncommon for patients to live with high blood pressure for years without noticing until they develop a complication such as a stroke or an aneurysm. For this reason, it is very important to be alert and start treating it before symptoms appear.
Good Nutrition: a Decisive Factor
For people suffering from hypertension, a balanced diet is a factor that cannot be neglected, as some types of food contribute greatly to maintaining balanced blood pressure, while others make it worse.
The way we live today not only makes us work faster and harder, but has also changed our diet and the way we eat. In addition to excess sugar and fat, there are other foods with huge amounts of sodium, which we are unaware of. If we don’t consume the right amount, these products pose a danger to our health.
Excessive sodium intake, for example, puts water into our blood vessels, which fills them and compresses the walls, causing an increase in blood pressure. Add to this other risk factors, such as stress and lack of physical activity, and you have a perfect recipe for hypertension.
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8 Common Foods to Avoid if You Suffer from Hypertension
In addition to the medications your doctor prescribes to regulate your blood pressure, you should also start being careful with some of these foods, which you might consider enemies:
1. White Bread
This usually contains high levels of saturated fat and sodium. It’s better to opt for whole-grain versions, made with cereals and fiber.
2. Caffeinated Beverages
Although a cup of black coffee without sugar isn’t harmful, many caffeinated beverages, such as soda and energy drinks, tend to increase blood pressure.
3. Sugary Foods
In addition to candies and pastries, refined sugar is often found in all types of foods, which contributes to weight gain and can lead to other health problems associated with hypertension, such as diabetes.
4. Butter and Margarine
These slow down blood circulation, as they are usually composed of fats and high levels of sodium, and, as in the case of margarine, also saturated fats.
5. Canned Foods
These are often very convenient, but contribute to fluid retention, which affects the health of the heart and kidneys. Excessive consumption causes a series of complications in the body.
6. Hard Cheeses
The longer a cheese ages, the more water it loses, which increases its concentration of saturated fats, sodium and cholesterol, which can reduce blood circulatory flow, and whose amounts are usually minimal in fresh cheese.
7. Ultra-Processed Foods
In addition to containing a lot of saturated fats, these often contain chemicals that only make the situation worse for people already suffering from hypertension.
8. Ultra-Processed Sauces
Such as mayonnaise, ketchup, ranch, and barbecue sauce, these are often overly spiced, and have very high levels of sodium.
Unfortunately, these common foods often act like a sponge, absorbing fluid and increasing blood pressure. Some can form plaques that dilute the blood vessels, further harming the health of patients who need to control their blood pressure.
Take Care of Your Blood Pressure with CareLife in Falls Church, VA
You have to be careful with the consumption of all these foods; at the very least, you should minimize their consumption to a minimum or, better yet, eliminate them from your diet, due to the risks they can pose to those who already suffer from hypertension, often without knowing it.
If you are in Falls Church, VA, CareLife Medical offers a safe and professional space for your health proper care, served by a compassionate team that will provide you the best treatments. Remember that proper nutrition and a calm lifestyle are the foundation for better health. People diagnosed with hypertension should be especially careful, as if this condition is not controlled, it can lead to various health problems and, in chronic cases, put your life at risk.
Don’t wait until you get sick. Contact CareLife Medical as soon as possible and reserve your wellness visit.
Your life deserves personalized care. Contact us and let us guide you.