For most people, high blood pressure is not something that you should lose sleep over. What most do not understand is that, once a certain point is reached, hypertension can lead to heart attack. Here are some more myths and incorrect beliefs that you might have to know about:
It’s in the genes so you can’t do anything about it.
While the predisposition or tendency to develop hypertension could run in the family, it does not necessarily mean that you would have it and that you would not be able to do anything to keep yourself from suffering from it. Making the right lifestyle choices can help you stay away from hypertension.
No table salt, no hypertension
Although salt generally increases the risk for hypertension, leaving it out of your meal does not automatically you are safe from hypertension. You have to keep in mind that it’s the sodium content that matters, and sodium can be found not just in your table salt but also in a lot of processed food. That said, you need to make sure that you read labels since, in most cases, about 75% of processed food have sodium as their ingredient. Using kosher salt also does not change things as kosher salt is made of 40 percent sodium.
As long as I feel fine, I shouldn’t worry about hypertension
Most people think that people with hypertension are typically sweaty and are constantly out of breath. In truth, however, people can be hypertensive without showing any physical symptom. This is the reason why hypertension is typically referred to as the “Silent Killer”. That said, the best way to ensure that you are not hypertensive is to get your blood pressure on a regular basis.
I drink lots of red wine so I don’t think I’m hypertensive
Although studies have shown that red wine, you have to keep in mind that, just like anything else, it should be taken in moderation. This is because, wine as well as other alcoholic beverages can significantly increase your blood pressure. This, in turn, can lead to a heart attack especially if you are not at your best health.
I no longer need meds since I have been able to moderate my blood pressure these past few months
Hypertension is typically a lifelong condition. It is not something that can be cured after a certain period of time. The best that you can hope for is regular maintenance in order to keep your hypertension at bay. That being the case, your best bet is to make sure that you have a trusted health care partner who can advise you on how to take care of yourself. In line with this, you should also consider having an AED unit home. You have to keep in mind that hypertension, in some cases, can lead to a heart attack. When that happens, you need to make sure that the people around you would know what to do. Having an AED at home, therefore, is what you need.
