Hypertension affects approximately 73 million Americans over the age of 20 in the United States. This statistic has alarmed doctors and health experts in the U.S. Some have developed diet plans for hypertension sufferers to combat the problem. Certain ones can significantly reduce blood pressure in those afflicted.
Hypertension is defined medically as blood pressure that is chronically higher than or equal to 140 over 90. A person whose blood pressure is being controlled by medication is also considered to have high blood pressure.
Today doctors are also concerned for patients who appear to be predisposed to or showing signs of developing a condition known as pre-hypertension. It is defined as blood pressure that is chronically higher than or equal to 120 over 80.
High blood pressure is a major concern because it can lead to a number of serious conditions. Heart attack is one. High blood pressure in pregnancy can result in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. It can also exacerbate existing conditions, like kidney and liver disease and diabetes.
Diet plans for hypertension aim to reduce blood pressure in sufferers. Doctors and health experts have long recommended diet as a means to control conditions like these. Doctors may advise patients in pre-hypertensive states to adjust their diets to avoid high blood pressure before medication becomes necessary.
Diet plans for hypertension are largely based upon common sense eating. They typically include high amounts of vegetables and fruits. Low or non-fat dairy products and small amounts of lean meats are also allowed. However, the bulk of most of these plans is heavy in vegetables and fruits.
Many of these dieting protocols have attained buzzword status in the battle against blood pressure problems. However, most of these types of plans are not new. Some have become well-known in the fight against high blood pressure because of a recent recommendation; such as those recognized in the 2005 version of the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans."
The "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" is published every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. Its purpose is to help Americans understand how to eat optimally to preserve health and well-being. Options may be found there for an effective diet plan for hypertension.
Most of the more preferred plans are founded on principles of low-fat, high-fiber eating. They are less of a "fad diet," and more of a lifelong guide to healthy eating. Certain ones have been shown more effective at reducing blood pressure than others.
The concept is not a new one; as mentioned earlier, but are easy for the average American to understand and follow. It can be customized to a particular lifestyle, as well as likes and dislikes. These are some of the more common reasons that this type of protocol has come to be recommended by the federal government.
Diet plans for hypertension are only as effective as the dieter. They require long-term change in order to significantly reduce and maintain blood pressure. Those with a commitment to healthy eating may see results within a few months. Some may even be able to reduce or eliminate medication.
Author Resource:-
Tom Moore, MD is the founder of the Dash For Health
program and a best-selling author. To find out more about how you can lose weight with No Pain and to claim your free DASH Eating Profile Now, visit us at:
DASH DIET
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