High blood pressure (BP) is called as a ‘silent killer’ as it often shows no symptoms. It is a major public health problem in India and its prevalence is rapidly increasing among both urban and rural populations. Lifestyle changes are important for preventing and treating high blood pressure.

Though essential hypertension remains somewhat mysterious, it has been linked to certain risk factors.  Kidney is a major risk factor for high BP. It has been found that about 7 in 10 people who have their first heart attack have high BP. About 8 in 10 people who suffer their first stroke are found to have high BP. About 7 in every 10 people with chronic heart failure have high BP. The risk factor increases with age.

Dr. Vijay Chandra Reddy says that one should start checking their BP from their 20’s and should get checkups regularly. Hypertension can be prevented by a healthy diet and active lifestyle. It is better to prevent it than to treat it with medicines. Healthy changes include maintaining a normal weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, reducing sodium (salt) intake and increasing potassium intake.

A caller asked if it is common for a woman to get high BP after pregnancy. Doctor said the pressure increases during pregnancy but it comes back to normal after delivery. If the condition continues, one has to consult their physician.

When a caller asked if there will be any side effects if one start the medication at an early age , the doctor advised him to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly for few months. If the condition improves, medication is not necessary. If not, then he can take medication after consulting with his doctor.

Another caller asked how he could deal with the side effects of the medication. The doctor replied that all allopathic medicines have side effects but most are reversible. It is best to inform the doctor about the side effect and discuss a way to reduce it. Anger and stress can lead to hypertension. He also mentions that his favorite movie is ‘Anger Management’ by Peter Segal. The Doctor concluded by saying that the activities he follows to relax and reduce stress are doing Yoga, Gardening and playing with his pet to deal with hypertension.

For many of us, back pain is an unavoidable discomfort. But we may have more control over it than we think. Back pain is one of the most common complaints among both men and women. It is also a common reason for absence from work.

Dr. Shankar discusses on the causes and reasons for back pain, discomfort and lower back problems with us and gives us simple tips and tricks to avoid or manage the pain.

He says, Slipped discs are one of the commonly faced problems and a clinical examination is a must to judge the severity of the problem. Since the Spine nerves are very delicate, it’s better to do an MRI to check that the nerves are not damaged before starting on any treatment.

One of the first few callers said he has been suffering from sciatica and asked if practicing yoga alone could help him with his problem. Dr. Shankar advised the caller to do a nerve conduction study and an MRI and based on the diagnosis of his physiotherapist he can ask his yoga practitioner for few strengthening exercises.

Another caller complained about on and off lower back pain. The doctor advised that a simple x-ray and a bone density test would throw some light on the root cause of the issue. He also told her to self check if the pain is appearing only after sitting or sleeping in a particular position.

Dr. Shankar says women should watch their posture while sitting, walking or standing to avoid back pain. When we keep our body posture right, back pain can be avoided most of the times. He prescribes women to enrich their calcium intake by taking 2-3 glasses of milk every day. Older women should take regular calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis.

When the back pain is bothering you for more than 6months, then you will have to consult your physician. Some young people might suffer stiffness in their backs in early mornings. It might be a symptom of arthritis of the spine. It might not be permanent but however the severity needs to be diagnosed by a physician.

As we all know, Vitamin D is very important for both bones and muscles. Any deficiency of this vitamin might result in weakness and pain. Though there are many supplements available in the market, the best and the simple solution to gain this vitamin is to go out for a few minutes of walk in the sun.

Dr. Shankar’s gives us few easy to follow advice according to your age to avoid back problems:
– Under 25 yr olds- Be Active!
– 25-40 yr olds – Walking is important for a healthy spine.
– Post 50 – Women must check bone density and make sure they get enough Calcium.
– Not all back pains are due to Spondylosis. Please get your problem diagnosed immediately!

A back pain can make your day worse. Not only does it make you uncomfortable while you sit, but also causes pain when you are lying down or standing. Here are a few ways you can take care of this problem.

Stretching
This form of exercise limbers up tense muscles and strengthens the ones that need help. But before you try any stretches it is advised that you visit a fitness expert or a doctor to know which ones will work for you. Stretching should be done gently. Don’t exert too much pressure on your muscles; they might do more damage than good.

There’s nothing worse than sitting at work with a horrible backache. Here’s how you can take care

Article Courtesy: Times Of India

Image Credits: http://www.apchiropractic.com.au/