Hypertension
It is well known that high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, there are lifestyle interventions that pharmacists can encourage patients to implement to reduce this risk.
Eating healthily/ Counting Calories.
Diet has a significant impact on BP with high salt, caffeine and alcohol intakes being linked to high BP. Current recommendations suggest that salt intake should be limited to 6g per day. Caffeine consumption should not exceed 4 cups of coffee per day and alcohol consumption should be within the recommendations of 14 units per week (i.e. 6 pints of average-strength beer or ten small glasses of low-strength wine), which includes two alcohol-free days.
According to the NHS, the diet should be based around the ‘Eatwell Guide’, published by PHE in 2016, which suggests that a large proportion of a person’s diet should include slow-release carbohydrates (e.g. wholegrain bread), as well as fruit and vegetables. People are also encouraged to eat protein and a small amount of dairy each day. Foods that are high in salt or sugar are not essential for a balanced diet and are therefore only recommended as treats (e.g. chocolate).
The guide also emphasises the importance of liquid calories. High-sugar drinks and alcohol all have a significant impact on waistlines; for example, data suggest that a large glass of red wine contains around 260 calories, while a pint of beer contains about 170 calories. Choosing reduced-calorie drinks (e.g. zero-sugar alternatives) can help with weight loss. Also, the guide recommends eight glasses of water per day.
Salt’s intake counting and effects on your body
Saltworks on your kidneys to make your body hold on to more water.
This extra stored water raises your blood pressure and puts a strain on your kidneys, arteries, heart and brain.
Heart
The raised blood pressure caused by overeating salt may damage the arteries leading to the heart.
At first, it’s going to cause a small reduction within the amount of blood reaching the guts. This may cause angina (sharp pains within the chest when being active).
With this condition, the cells within the heart don’t also work as they ought to because they’re not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients. However, lowering blood pressure may help to alleviate some of the problems and reduce the risk of more significant damage.
If you still overeat salt then, over time, the damage caused by the additional vital sign may become so severe that the arteries burst or become completely clogged.
If this happens, then the part of the guts that was receiving the blood not gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs and dies. The result is a heart attack.
The best thanks to preventing an attack are to prevent the arteries from becoming damaged. And one among the simplest ways of doing this is often to stay your vital sign down by eating less salt.
Recommended Salt Intake
The American Heart Association recommends no quite 2,300 milligrams (mg) each day and an absolute limit of no quite 1,500 mg per day for many adults, especially for those with high blood pressure. Even curtailing by 1,000 mg each day can improve vital sign and heart health.
Tips to Cut Sodium
- generally, foods with quite 300 mg sodium per serving might not fit into your hotel plan . You can find out how much sodium is in food by reading the food label. Remember the quantity listed is for one serving, which can be more or, but you eat.)
- don’t salt food at the table; add little or no when cooking.
- Choose carefully once you eat faraway from home. Restaurant foods can be very high in sodium. Let the person taking your order know that you simply are trying to find low-salt or no-salt choices. Many restaurants have special menus or will make food with less salt.
A few great reasons to manage your weight and count your calories:
Being overweight puts you at higher risk of developing health problems.
A little weight loss can bring tons of health gains. Did you recognize you would possibly experience health benefits from losing as few as 10 pounds? Even a small weight loss can help manage or prevent high blood pressure in many overweight people (those with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher).
Weight loss reduces the strain on your heart. Being overweight puts extra pressure on your heart, increasing the danger for developing high vital sign and damage to your blood vessels which will cause serious health threats.