Hypertension has become a major health issue for many Americans. In fact, recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report that stated that at least half of the 67 million people battling hypertension in this country do not have it under control. There are a number of ways to lower blood pressure numbers, from the use of arginine supplements to diet and exercise, but with so many people not managing the condition, officials fear the adverse health effects and potential for ensuing deaths from this condition may start to increase over time.
This is a cause for concern because high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack and a number of other health issues. Getting elevated blood pressure numbers in check guards against many of these conditions and is generally possibly through lifestyle changes. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is characterized by the flow of blood through your heart occurring with too much force and putting greater pressure on those arteries, causing small tears in them.
Over time, scar tissue forms around the tears and hardens, which can trap plaque and a number of other components. Eventually, the build-up will lead to a blockage that will cause your heart to cease working properly. In fact, this is why the condition is such a vivid precursor to heart disease. Arginine supplements, in particular, help to guard against this issue as this amino acid helps to keep the flow of blood going through your heart by increasing the breadth of circulation within this all-too-important muscle. According to the report, when you have hypertension, you are four times more likely to die from stroke and three times more likely to die from heart disease, which is a great incentive to get it under control and fast.
Taking arginine supplements is just one step in the process; cutting out sodium from your diet where possible, eating better and getting plenty of exercise are also key components to lowering blood pressure numbers and just getting healthier overall. Managing stress is also key, as too much stress can take a toll on your body in the form of hypertension, negating the purpose for taking arginine supplements and introducing other lifestyle changes into your daily regimen. The more you attempt to control hypertension now, the better the health pay-off will be for you down the road.