Dietary, lifestyle factors affect hypertension levels<\/p>\n
By Grace Segran<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Did you know that what you eat and what
\nyou do play a major role in determining whether you get
\nhypertension or not?<\/p>\n
Speaking at the first meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society of
\nHypertension in Bali recently, Professor Lawrie Beilin from the
\nUniversity Department of Medicine and the West Australian Heart
\nResearch Institute at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western
\nAustralia said, \"There is now abundant evidence that dietary and
\nlifestyle factors critically determine an individual's blood
\npressure level and the prevalence of hypertension in
\npopulations.\"<\/p>\n
He added that it was estimated that some 80 percent of
\npatients currently diagnosed with hypertension had a preventable
\ndisorder.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashikin Hanafiah, the professor of cardiology at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia and chairman of the medical board of the
\nHarapan Kita Cardiac Center in Jakarta, said it was estimated 15
\npercent of adults in Indonesia aged 25 years and above suffer
\nfrom hypertension.<\/p>\n
Normal blood pressure is 130\/80mmHg and any reading higher
\nthan the borderline of 140\/90mmHg constitutes hypertension, said
\nAshikin.<\/p>\n
Ashikin warned that hypertension could affect other organs as
\nwell. The areas that we need to keep a careful eye on if we
\nsuffer from hypertension are the eyes, brain, heart, kidney and
\nperipheral arteries.<\/p>\n
Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for coronary
\nheart disease and the biggest single factor influencing stroke.
\n\"Given the burden of heart disease and stroke, it is vital to
\nincrease awareness of current evidence offering opportunities for
\nbetter prevention and management of hypertension,\" said Beilin.<\/p>\n
Beilin said excess body fat remains the biggest single factor
\nrelated to blood pressure elevation and hypertension. Weight
\nreduction trials have shown clear reductions of blood pressure
\nwith weight loss as little as five kilograms.<\/p>\n
The effects on weight loss can be enhanced by simultaneously
\nincreasing physical fitness, reducing alcohol consumption,
\nreducing salt intake and by regular dietary consumption of fish.<\/p>\n
\"Randomized trials combining these various measures have been
\nshown to reduce blood pressure by 10-15mmHg systoles in treated
\nor untreated hypertensives, with effects as great as those seen
\nwith antihypertensive drug therapy,\" said Beilin.<\/p>\n
The benefits of weight control extend beyond those with just
\nblood pressure reduction. It also results in a general reduction
\nin your risk of getting heart disease due to improvements in
\nlipid profile, glucose tolerance, a reduced cardiac load and
\nheart rate.<\/p>\n
The effects of alcohol on hypertension are well-documented but
\nare still generally underestimated by the medical profession.
\nFrom a study of 20 44-year-old working men, it was estimated that
\nsome 70 percent of hypertension cases could be prevented by
\nmoderating alcohol to below 2 standard drinks per day and
\ncontrolling weight and obesity.<\/p>\n
Doctors tend to be ambivalent over alcohol because of the
\nbivalent effect of alcoholic beverages on cardiovascular disease.
\nHowever, it is important to note that the lowest mortality rates
\noccur in people drinking one standard drink per day or none at
\nall.<\/p>\n
\"Vegetarian diets characterized by a relatively low-saturated
\nfat intake and a high consumption of fruit, vegetables and fiber
\nhave been shown to be associated with low blood pressure,\" said
\nBeilin.<\/p>\n
The recently published DASH study from the United States
\ninvolved 459 mildly hypertensive subjects who either continued
\ntheir normal diet, increased fruit and vegetable consumption or
\ncombined the latter with a reduction in total and saturated fat
\nintake and increased low fat milk consumption.<\/p>\n
Consumption of lean meat and fish were encouraged.<\/p>\n
The largest blood pressure reduction of 5.5 to 3mmHg was seen
\nin those on the combined diet, while those increasing only fruit
\nand vegetables showed a fall in blood pressure of 2.8 to 1.1mmHg.
\nThe study demonstrates how dietary changes which could be
\nacceptable to the general population are likely to achieve
\nsignificant blood pressure control.<\/p>\n
\"High salt intake remains a major contributor to hypertension,
\nespecially when potassium is low,\" said Beilin. He also added
\nthat smoking has a dominant effect in increasing the
\ncardiovascular risk in hypertensives.<\/p>\n
In practice, many lifestyle factors operate in concert and
\nhave additive or interactive effects. \"Moreover, people tend to
\ndemonstrate a clustering of unhealthy habits,\" said Beilin. For
\nexample, heavy smokers are more prone to drinking heavily, eating
\nmore saturated fat, adding salt to their food and being
\nphysically inactive. Risk factors are also more common among the
\nlower socioeconomic group.<\/p>\n
What can we do then to ensure our blood pressure remains at an
\nacceptable level? Ashikin advocates that we follow the Indonesian
\nHeart Foundation's slogan S.E.H.A.T. (health). The acronym stands
\nfor: seimbang gizi (balanced nutrition), enyahkan rokok (kick the
\nsmoking habit), hindari stress (avoid stress), awasi hipertensi
\n(beware of hypertension and to have blood pressure checked
\nregularly) and Teratur olahraga (exercise regularly).<\/p>\n
Hence, it seems that our best bet against hypertension is also
\nthe cornerstone for staying healthy: eat a balanced diet with
\nlots of fruit and vegetables; go easy on the fat, salt and
\nalcohol; stop smoking; avoid stress; exercise regularly and
\nreduce excess body fat.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dietary-lifestyle-factors-affect-hypertension-levels-1447893297",
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