April 7th Was World Health Day—Are You in Good Health?

April 7 has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as World Health Day. This has been celebrated since 1950 with varying themes every year. For 2013, the theme was all about controlling hypertension, a disease which has been dubbed as “the silent killer”.

Now that the World Health Day has been celebrated, have you ever wondered on the steps that you made in order to make sure that you are always in good health? Have you been keeping a healthy lifestyle that prevents hypertension, or are you going to pay for the current lifestyle that you are leading in the future? In order to ensure that you are always in good health and that you control your blood pressure, here are some general guidelines on keeping your blood pressure in check:

• Take maintenance medications. If you have been recently diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor should have probably pointed out the importance of taking your maintenance medications to keep your blood pressure within controllable levels. This will promote effectiveness of the drugs and will prevent sudden spikes in your blood pressure.
• Modify your lifestyle. Hypertension is largely caused by certain lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and unhealthy diet. If you continue practicing these bad habits, they will counter the effects of your medication. For example, constantly taking antilipidemics together with a high fat diet will not make any difference in your hypertension problem. You have to discipline yourself and change your lifestyle practices for the better.
• Eat healthy. This does not mean completely avoiding fatty and sweet foods altogether. You have to remember that they key to every diet is moderation. Also, do not forget that the way you cook your food can also affect the calories and nutrient content of your foods. For example, baked foods are better than those that have been cooked through frying. Lessen your sodium intake as well, since sodium-rich foods are proven to increase blood pressure.
• Exercise regularly. A sedentary lifestyle is not just a risk factor for hypertension; it can also pose as a risk to other diseases such as diabetes mellitus. In order to avoid these, you have to engage in exercise routines at least three times a week. This can strengthen your heart muscles, thus improving circulation and normalizing your blood pressure.
• Consult your doctor. Your doctor makes sure that your blood pressure is maintained within the normal range, so it is important to see him every now and then. He also helps you avoid other complications that hypertension can have if uncontrolled, such as blindness and kidney disease. If you have any problems with your medications or you are feeling any symptoms, the doctor is also the person to visit.

By following the aforementioned steps, you are helping your body deal with a chronic condition such as hypertension. All these may not be easy, but once you have incorporated these things into your habits, then everything becomes easier. In turn, you become a healthier individual.

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