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Blood pressure varies depending on the resistance that the blood flow meets while passing through the arteries, and gets higher as we get older and the arterial walls lose their elasticity. Blood pressure also tends to go up when you have a problem and goes down again once that problem has been confronted, sometimes just by talking about it.
It also tends to go up when we mentally prepare for a physical effort or an unpleasant situation, so high blood pressure is often seen as an ailment which is brought on by the pace of Western life.
The excessive pressure that people have to withstand these days creates states of emotional tension which can seriously affect their health, by causing them to live under constant stress which may lead to chronic high blood pressure.

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When and how can you take your blood pressure?
High blood pressure is not an uncommon ailment in the world today. It affects about one out of every seven middle aged people, mostly men. Everybody should monitor their blood pressure a couple of times a year whether they are prone to hypertension or not. Someone suffering from high blood pressure should, as well as following their doctor's instructions, have their blood pressure taken every one to four weeks. High blood pressure is when the upper and/or lower figures are above what is considered to be normal for your age. Ask your doctor for the exact details.
Doctor's use a device known as a sphygmomanometer in conjunction with a stethoscope to check blood pressure. This consists of a cuff which is inflated over the arm by means of a pressure bulb and a manometer from which the two readings are taken. You can also find automatic versions of the same basic device in chemists.

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The causes
Studies have shown that in nine out of ten cases it is not possible to know exactly why someone suffers from high blood pressure, although heredity is thought to play a major role.
� If parents have high blood pressure, their children are more likely to suffer from it too.
� Overweight people are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.
� The stress our lifestyles put us under in developed societies also contributes to raising blood pressure levels.
� A regular high intake of alcohol will also put blood pressure up.
� Smoking has a direct effect on the heart by narrowing the arteries and thereby increasing pressure. Smoking has a similar effect to high levels of cholesterol, and in fact decreases levels of "good" cholesterol.
� Blood pressure levels go up the more salt you eat.
� Certain medicines for treating ailments such as rheumatism, nervous depression or asthma may affect blood pressure.

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Changing habits
Nowadays there are a great many drugs on the market for lowering blood pressure: diuretics, which work by making your kidneys flush out more water and salt, beta blockers, which act on the nerves controlling the blood system, or vasodilators which relax the arteries by increasing their diameter. But more the first thing you should do is to give up certain unhealthy habits and replace them with some healthier ones.
� Lose excess weight because the more overweight you are the higher the risk. The statistics speak for themselves since at least 60% of hypertension sufferers are overweight.
� No more than 10% of your daily calorie intake should come from saturated animal fats.
� Potassium rich foods lower blood pressure. Fruits, especially those rich in Vitamin C, fresh vegetables and wholegrain cereals are all rich in potassium.
� You should avoid consuming too much salt, as it can raise your blood pressure or counteract anti-hypertension medication.
� Eat more oily fish, like tuna, salmon and trout, as it contains Omega3 fatty acids which reduce cholesterol levels and help keep arteries flexible.
� A quarter of an aspirin a day has an anti-coagulant effect which protects against blood clots.
� Sixty seconds of healthy laughter a day will help to keep your blood pressure down.
� Listening to quiet, slow, instrumental, and rhythmical music can lower your blood pressure through relaxation.
� Doing some aerobic exercise, walking, or cycling is vital for the arteries. It will strengthen your heart, prevent blood clots and reduce stress levels.
� Get yourself a pet. Having a pet around the house is good for the blood pressure.

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