Blood pressure and health

I've never been too active of a person but I've always been relatively healthy and slightly skinny. But lately my insomnia has been killing me and I don't have much motivation to do much. I don't really sleep well (this isn't anything new) and waking up with a headache is common. I sometimes get to experience migraines with aura, and I think I might be experiencing sleep apnea.

Either way my family history isn't very good: my mom's family is full of eccentric people, and my uncle and aunt suffered from schizophrenia. From my dad's side several had heart problems and suffered with depression and alcoholism.

So that's why I went to the doctor last month to do some basic checks and a blood test. Luckily the results were all perfect, but just in case, I got my blood pressure taken.

The meter read 150/90. Hypertension. It was not insanely high but high enough to be considered. Incidentally that day I had very bad sleep so I was told to take my blood pressure every day for a week to make sure. The results varied between 130/80 and 140/90. So while I didn't have hypertension, I was diagnosed with pre-hypertension with a very high danger of developing it.

Indeed most of my dad's family had hypertension, so having a high BP at my young age mostly indicates that my case is hereditary. Luckily, I was told that I can delay the problem by changing my diet and excercising more.

So that's what I did. I've been eating barely any salt this month, and my BP has already lowered to around 120/70. My next step is to start doing daily exercise, and hopefully that will improve things more. Honestly I don't want to deal with pills but I know I'll have to sooner or later, as hereditary hypertension can't really be avoided, just delayed.

But at the very least, I'm happy I got to know. I can now take care of my health, like I always should have.

That said, my case isn't serious (yet) and it can be improved. I will be undergoing an ECG next week to check my heart health.

Whenever I ask friends if they've had their BP measured or done any health checks, most of them reply no. Indeed most people don't really care about their health, and I know I didn't. But while our bodies can be strong and durable, they can also be fragile and unpredictable at times. I'm pretty sure having your body fail on you because you didn't act when you had to isn't fun.

That's why everyone should do regular health checks and blood tests, even if you think you're healthy. It's always a good thing.

Take care.