Module 12 : Aging and Diseases of Civilization
Hypertension is a disease of civilization and this post briefly explains how changes in lifestyle may have been associated with its rise.
Relying
heavily on convenient processed food.
Excess sodium consumption has a
direct effect on blood pressure. More salt equals more sodium in the blood,
which draws water from surrounding tissues into your vessels and increases
blood volume.
A high-processed-food diet can
lead to weight gain, and when people are overweight, the body must pump blood
to more tissue, which can raise blood pressure.
Having more than one alcoholic
drink in a day.
Moderate alcohol consumption (one
drink per day for women, two drinks per day for men) is often not a problem for
people who already drink, and some research suggests it may even help prevent
heart disease. However, excessive alcohol consumption, particularly binge
drinking episodes, can result in chronically elevated blood pressure.
Binge drinking has been linked to
an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of
fatty plaque in the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Lack of exercise.
Sitting too much or leading a
sedentary lifestyle can have a negative impact on almost every aspect of your
health, including your cardiovascular health. sedentary raises blood pressure
in two ways: indirectly and directly. Sedentary people are more likely to be
overweight or obese, and as previously stated, weight is one of the primary
causes of high blood pressure.
Increased stress levels.
Stress hormones such as cortisol
and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream to help us escape danger (to
fight or flee); they increase heart rate, elevate blood pressure, and constrict
blood vessels.
Social isolation.
You may not feel stressed when
you are lonely or socially isolated, but these feelings, if they persist, can
cause the same dangerous release of stress hormones that raise blood pressure.
What Causes High Blood Pressure? 8 Reasons for High Blood
Pressure (prevention.com)
Hello Tashongedzwa,
ReplyDeleteI really like the topic you decided on, Hypertension has always been constantly discussed among health informationals. You made a lot of good points, a lot of the reasons the disease is very common is due to the lack of exercise and over consumption. I think you summed up the points well. How do you believe hypertension has affected the lives of others involved with the person who has the disease?
This is very interesting to read, especially because I feel like a lot of college students do or are affected by several of these things. I think that people may often forget about the negative impacts that could come from not living a healthy lifestyle.
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