Risk Factors

• Risk factors that increase your chances of developing hypertension include:
  • Age: You have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure as you reach early middle age.
  • Being overweight
  • Leading a sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Consuming a lot of alcohol
  • Having a high stress level
  • Consuming excessive salt in the diet
  
  

Diagnosis

• Your doctor measures your blood pressure by placing an inflatable arm cuff equipped with a pressure-measuring gauge around your upper arm. The upper number measures the amount of pressure in your arteries as your heart beats. The lower number measures pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.
  
  A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80.
  
  

Symptoms

• Hypertension sufferers may have no symptoms, even if blood pressure is dangerously high.
  
  

Treatment

• Your doctor will encourage you to exercise and make diet modifications, such as eating a lower salt diet.
  
  Lifestyle changes such as avoiding stress, decreasing consumption of alcohol and not smoking may also be recommended.
  
  If diet and lifestyle changes don't bring blood pressure levels down to normal, medication may be prescribed.
  
  

Kitchen Cures

• Most Americans do not get enough potassium in their diet, and potassium decreases the effects of sodium on blood pressure.
  
  Eat fruits and vegetables instead of taking potassium supplements. Dried plums, baked potatoes with the skin, raisins, bananas, artichokes, spinach and lima beans are good potassium sources.
  
  Decrease your consumption of salty processed foods, such as potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and lunch meat.
  
  Meals can still be tasty while cutting down your sodium intake. Pep up the taste of beef with allspice, dill, chili powder or garlic. Season a pork roast with cinnamon, coriander, garlic, onion, sage, thyme or ginger.
  
  Spice up mashed potatoes with dill, caraway, green pepper, onion, parsley or thyme. Make squash extra tasty by adding cinnamon or nutmeg.
  
  Use spices and seasonings to add that extra kick to your cooking. Cayenne pepper, cloves, cumin, curry powder, bay leaf, ginger and mint flavor food without adding sodium.
  
  Your water softener can be a hidden source of sodium, although cold water to the kitchen is usually not softened. Check with the manufacturer to verify sodium levels.
  Switch to a different water-purification system if necessary, or buy water with a lower mineral count for drinking and cooking.