The secret to a healthy heart: manage high blood pressure

Hypertension, also known as 'high blood pressure', is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. At Elytis Hospitalwe understand the importance of early diagnosis and effective management of hypertension to prevent serious complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

This article gives you essential information on how to control your high blood pressure and live a healthy life, with a focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment, including eating the right diet and adopting an active lifestyle.

What is hypertension?

Blood pressure is the force with which blood presses against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Hypertension occurs when this force is consistently too high.

The Elytis Hospitalinternists use modern technology to measure blood pressure and make an accurate diagnosis. Blood pressure values are expressed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and have two components:

• Systolic blood pressure: the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood.
• Diastolic blood pressure: the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.

Risk factors for high blood pressure

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. Expert team from Elytis Hospital can help you identify these factors and take steps to reduce them:

• Age: the risk of high blood pressure increases with age.
• Family history: if you have close relatives with high blood pressure, you have a higher risk of developing the condition.
• Obesity: excess weight puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels.
• Sedentary lifestyle: lack of physical activity can increase blood pressure.
• Too much salt: the sodium in salt can increase blood pressure.
• Drinking too much alcohol: alcohol can increase blood pressure.
• Smoking: smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of high blood pressure.
• Stress: chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure.
• Certain medical conditions: diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure.

Prevent high blood pressure

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is key to preventing high blood pressure. At Elytis Hospital, internists offer personalized advice on nutrition, physical activity and other lifestyle factors:

• Maintain a healthy weight: if you're overweight or obese, even a small weight loss can help reduce blood pressure.
• Eat a balanced diet: eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Limit salt, saturated fat and sugar.
• Be physically active: get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
• Limit alcohol: moderate drinking is defined as a maximum of one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
• Quit smoking: smoking is a major risk factor for high blood pressure and other health problems.
• Manage stress: practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga or deep breathing.

Diagnosing high blood pressure

Internal Medicine at Elytis offers a comprehensive approach to diagnosing hypertension. The internist will review your medical history, perform a physical examination and measure your blood pressure. Other investigations may also be necessary, such as:

• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM): this method allows blood pressure to be monitored over a 24-hour period, giving a more complete picture of blood pressure changes.
• Blood tests: these can help identify other risk factors or associated conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): the ECG records the electrical activity of the heart and can detect signs of heart damage.
• Echocardiography: this investigation uses ultrasound to create images of the heart and assess heart function.

Treating high blood pressure

Treatment of high blood pressure aims to reduce blood pressure to normal and prevent complications. At Elytis Hospital, internists develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include:

• Lifestyle changes: adopting a healthy lifestyle, as described above, is essential in the treatment of hypertension.
• Medication: there are several types of medication available to treat high blood pressure. The internist will choose the right medicine according to the individual needs of each patient.
• Regular monitoring: it's important to monitor your blood pressure regularly and go for regular check-ups to make sure your treatment is effective and to adjust your medication doses if necessary.

Hypertension and nutrition

A healthy diet plays a crucial role in controlling high blood pressure. Elytis Hospital emphasizes medical education, providing patients with information and advice on how to adopt a healthy diet:

• Reduce your salt intake: limit your salt intake to no more than 5 grams per day. Avoid processed foods, which are often high in salt.
• Eat foods rich in potassium: potassium helps to remove sodium from the body. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach and beans.
• Choose calcium-rich foods: calcium is important for bone health and can help reduce blood pressure. Calcium-rich foods include low-fat dairy, tofu and broccoli.
• Limit your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol: Saturated fat is found in meat, butter and whole-grain dairy products. Cholesterol is found in animal products.
• Eat high-fiber foods: fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Fiber helps regulate digestion and can help lower blood pressure.
• Drink plenty of water: water helps flush toxins out of the body and maintain healthy blood pressure.

Hypertension and active lifestyle

Regular physical activity is essential for controlling high blood pressure. At Elytis, internists encourage you to adopt an active lifestyle and offer personalized advice tailored to your needs and abilities:

• Choose activities that you enjoy: find physical activities that you enjoy and that suit your lifestyle, such as walking, jogging, swimming, dancing or gardening.
• Be consistent: try to exercise most days of the week.
• Start gradually: if you haven't exercised for a long time, start gradually and increase the intensity and duration of your workouts over time.
• Consult your doctor: before starting a new exercise program, consult your doctor, especially if you have other health problems.

Elytis Hospital: Your partner for a healthy life

The Elytis Hospitalyou benefit from an integrated and personalized approach to the management of hypertension. Our team of experienced internists, modern technology and patient-centered focus ensure the best outcomes for your health.

Schedule a consultation at Elytis Hospital and take the first step towards a healthier life!

Latest medical review:

28.01.2025, Dr. Alexandra Luncă – Medic Specialist Medicină Internă