High blood pressure or hypertension is a common disease where blood flows through the arteries at a higher that normal pressure. Normal pressure is medically known as systolic pressure below 120 millimeters of Mercury and diastolic pressure below 80 millimeters of Mercury written as 120/80 mm/Hg.

Systolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart beats whereas diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. Hypertension is caused by many factors depending on one’s age and lifestyle.

Many people develop high blood pressure as a result of high salt intake. An elevated level of Sodium Chloride in the blood causes hypertension. Patients notice this after a long time as symptoms like fast heart beat rate and shortness of breath manifest. It is advisable to lower your salt intake in order to control your blood pressure. When cooking, measure salt with a teaspoon instead of pouring it carelessly. Also avoid adding salt to cooked food to make it tastier.

Alcohol intake is another cause of high blood pressure. Blood vessels tend to constrict after alcohol consumption, making the blood to force its way through. Alcoholics usually feel the blood moving fast in the body due to the increased pressure. Stopping alcohol consumption or limiting yourself to two bottles per week will significantly lower your blood pressure to the normal level.

Smoking is a major cause of high blood pressure. Cigarettes contain more than five hundred chemical substances which destroy the lungs, heart and blood vessels. Smokers have low oxygen levels in the blood. This makes the blood to move fast and shortness of breath can be experienced at times. Quitting smoking or limiting yourself to one cigarette a day will lower your blood pressure.

Eating of fruits and vegetables regularly is a proven method of lowering your blood pressure. Bananas have magnesium and Potatoes have Potassium both which lower high blood pressure.

Drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water per day is very important in maintaining a constant blood pressure. Water is a universal solvent. This means that many solvents are soluble in water. It flushes out excess salt and other toxins that cause high blood pressure. Studies show that drinking one glass of water before sleeping, after waking up in the morning and before taking a bath reduces high blood pressure.

Common symptoms of high blood pressure include frequent headaches, dizziness, anxiety and shortness of breath. Hypertension is a lifestyle disease which can be controlled and even treated without having to undertake medication.