Blood Pressure And Your Health

Atherosclerosis, in general means the buildup of fatty deposits called plaque on the inside walls of arteries. Arteries perform the task of blood vessels that carry oxygen and blood to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Plaque build-up results in narrowing or clogging of the artery. As an artery becomes more and more narrowed, less blood is able to flow through. The artery may also become less elastic. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of a group of diseases called cardiovascular diseases i.e. diseases of the heart and blood vessels. For further details read High Blood Pressure: Giving Way To A Chain Of Maladies

Too much cholesterol in the blood, damage to the artery wall, and inflammation appear to play important roles in plaque buildup. There may be other factors that prove to be important as causes of atherosclerosis. They are-high cholesterol, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), atheroma and arteriosclerosis. As such, the causes of atherosclerosis are easy to find. Atherosclerosis can lead to high blood pressure levels and volatile heart rate and blood pressure.

You can't do anything about your genes, your gender or your age, but you can adopt a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight gain as you get older. Get plenty of regular exercise- at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. Eat a healthy diet for high blood pressure- low in saturated fat and rich in fruits and vegetables. If you have high blood cholesterol or high blood pressure readings, you may need blood pressure medicine to help lower it. Stick to your treatment of high blood pressure. Talk to your health care provider to learn the ways to lower blood pressure, about what you can do to lower your risks for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The effects of high blood pressure have to be lessened for lowering high blood pressure.