The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in the Modern Health Crisis.

Hypertension, formally known as high blood pressure, is a commonly faced medical issue among people across the globe. Hypertension is caused by an increasing force of blood against the arteries, leading to serious health issues. Both systolic (when the heart beats or contracts) and diastolic (when the heart is at rest) numbers need to be monitored.

Regular check-ups are the best way to diagnose hypertension; otherwise, no significant symptoms are observed in hypertensive patients. The risk of hypertension has been found to increase with old age. Many factors can contribute to this, but as the body ages, arteries can become constricted and less flexible, hindering blood flow. An unhealthy lifestyle throughout life can cause serious health issues later in life, prominently including hypertension. Several other diseases such as obesity and diabetes can exacerbate hypertension.

As diet plays a pivotal role in recovering and maintaining health, a little carelessness regarding food consumption can lead to highly adverse conditions. A balanced diet can bless you with a healthy body and mind, while an unbalanced or inadequate dietary regimen can have severe effects on health. In short, diet can be the cause of good health and can also be the cause of illness. It all depends on the choices made by individuals in adopting a healthy and controlled diet

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), among adults aged 30 to 70, 1.28 billion are living with hypertension. Approximately 46 percent of adults have hypertension but are unaware and untreated, while 42 percent of adults are receiving treatment for hypertension. This means that one in three adults is suffering from hypertension, and almost 18 percent of adults in Pakistan are coping with hypertension.

Although hypertension can be aggravated by several factors, an unhealthy lifestyle and diet are worth mentioning. A low-sodium diet should be preferred by hypertensive patients because sodium directly influences blood pressure, and its intake must be limited. Patients should avoid foods that contain salt either directly or indirectly. Processed foods, salty snacks, and seasonal dishes often contain high levels of sodium.

It's better to cook food at home rather than purchasing processed food and to add salt carefully. Adopt healthy cooking methods and use natural herbs and spices instead of salt in your food. Choose poultry and fish over processed meats, as they generally have a lower sodium...