According to the World Health Organisation, hypertension is considered one of the most common cardiac severe conditions. Hypertension does not show any symptoms in its early stages. However, it is responsible for some of the most painful diseases affecting the body, especially the heart, brain, kidneys & liver.
Blood pressure is described as the forces produced by the heart to push blood against our major arteries. Two measurements are taken to address how much force is exerted when measuring blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the force produced when the heart contracts (or pumps). When the heart rests, diastolic pressure is measured. The standard measurements for blood pressure are at 120/80mmHg.
On the other hand, you can have hypertension if your measurements are more than 140/90mmHg repeatedly. Unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking & alcohol consumption are common risk factors. If you have any questions regarding the measurements or lifestyle issues, it is recommended to seek advice from a GP or physiotherapist.
The importance of physiotherapy for hypertension
The aim of physiotherapy is to guide and educate patients suffering with symptoms of hypertension. Exercise therapy is the most common form of therapy used by physiotherapists to control hypertension. Physiotherapists recommend approximately 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and three strength training sessions every week.
Even though it might be impossible to reach such numbers, it is highly recommended to start exercising slowly before achieving these ideal amounts of exercise. If you are interested in starting and finding the motivation to start exercising, do not hesitate to communicate with your physiotherapist. On another note, physiotherapists can recognise the common symptoms of hypertension and can refer you to the appropriate healthcare professional. Therefore, it is very important to keep in contact with your physiotherapist, according to your lifestyle and any unusual symptoms.
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Roberto Agius is a physiotherapist at Willingness. He achieved clinical experience in various areas of clinical rehabilitation.
References
Hypertension. (2021, August 25). Retrieved from World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension