What it is
Hypertension is persistently high arterial blood pressure — the force exerted per unit of surface area on the walls of the arteries. Hypertension is defined when the systolic blood pressure (the pressure during the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle) is 140 mmHg or higher, or when the diastolic blood pressure (the pressure during the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle) is 90 mmHg or higher.
Symptoms
There are often no symptoms, but the following can appear:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Nutritional management
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Reducing salt intake (<5 g/day)
- Increased consumption of foods rich in potassium, such as fruit and vegetables
- Reducing consumption of processed foods
- Reducing consumption of foods rich in saturated fats and trans fatty acids
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Increased low- to moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
- Smoking cessation
When to consult a dietitian-nutritionist
- When there is a diagnosis of hypertension or pre-hypertension
- When there is increased body weight or obesity
- When there is a family history of hypertension
- When a personalised nutrition plan is needed to reduce sodium, saturated fats and processed foods
- When education is needed on food choices and on managing body weight
- When the goal is to prevent cardiovascular complications and improve overall cardiovascular health