Thrive in your corporate career but keep your hypertension in check!
A successful corporate career is every young aspirant's dream. However, the rise in sedentary lifestyles have given rise to serious health issues. Hypertension is ranked the third most crucial health risk factor in the world. BP, Anxiety and Stress exert a substantial public health burden on cardiovascular health status and healthcare systems.
Hypertension (HTN) is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths in India. In a study published by “The International Journal of Health Sciences and Research”, 35% of the corporate study population were found to be hypertensive. This established the prevalence of hypertension in the younger age cohort.
Workplace-related stress and Hypertension (HTN)
Hypertension is a common risk factor beyond the age of 40. However, studies have revealed that the younger working population is becoming equally susceptible to these ailments due to their intense workplaces. Among the factors considered for the study, stress at the workplace contributed to a higher percentage of hypertension cases.
Did you know? Your body produces a surge of hormones during stressful situations causing your heart to beat faster and blood vessels to narrow. Temporary situations like this can have a long term effect on your overall blood pressure values.
We all suffer from stress in one way or the other. Stressful situations can cause your blood pressure to spike temporarily. Stress in combination with other factors can cause long term high blood pressure.
Why is it important to keep your bp under check?
High blood pressure comes with no warning signs or symptoms for many people. Some may not even know they have it. The only way to know if you have hypertension or not, is to get your Blood pressure checked now and then.
We all tend to get nervous when our vitals are checked, don’t we? Factors like these including your last meal and sitting posture can affect your blood pressure reading. The next time you are getting your bp checked, take deep breaths and remember the importance of getting accurate readings to avoid unnecessary treatments in case of a high bp or a false sense of security in case of low bp.
Ways to keep your BP under control
Using strategies to manage your stress and lifestyle can help improve your health in many ways, especially in keeping your blood pressure under control.
- Healthy Lifestyle - When it comes to health and lifestyle, it is all about you. Your list of healthy lifestyle behaviours may be different from the others. The most important thing to remember is that only you can make a difference in your health and well-being. Take charge of your life, and be mindful of small behaviour changes that can make your lifestyle a healthier one.
- Simplify your schedule - If you always feel rushed, be it home or work, take a few minutes to review your calendar and to-do lists. Look for activities that take up your time but aren't very important to you. Schedule less time for these activities or eliminate them completely. Breathe to relax. Taking deep and slow breaths can help you relax.
- Exercise, Yoga and Meditation - Physical activity is a natural stress-buster. Just be sure to get your doctor's OK before starting a new exercise program, especially if you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Yoga and meditation strengthen your body and help you relax.
- Quality Sleep - We all love to sleep, Don’t we? But following a regular sleep pattern and timing is very important. Too little sleep can make your problems seem worse than they really are. Well-rested people not only cope better with stress but may also have better control of their appetites. On the contrary, don't try to make up for the lack of sleep with a lot of sleep in a single day.
- Shift your perspective - When dealing with problems, resist the tendency to complain. Acknowledge your feelings about the situation, and then focus on finding solutions. The goal is to discover what works for you. Be open-minded and willing to experiment. Choose your strategies, take action and start enjoying the benefits.
- Health and Wellness Apps - The new-age employee wellness apps today cater not only to physical health but also to mental health. Having apps in this regard will make life a lot easier for you. With wellness apps, you can actively keep track of your health levels. HealthieU is one such comprehensive platform for all your health and wellness needs.
What are you waiting for? Start your wellness journey and manage your hypertension on this "World Hypertension Day".
Download the HealthieU App NOW. Available on Android and iOS.
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