High blood pressure affects one in four adults in the UK, but many people don’t know they have it as the symptoms are not alway obvious or noticeable. The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your reading regularly checked, either by your GP or local pharmacist or using a blood pressure monitor at home. Lifestyle plays a huge role in treating high blood pressure. If a person successfully controls their blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, they might avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.
Calcium allows blood to clot normally, muscles and nerves to function properly, and the heart to beat normally. Most of the calcium is found inside your bones
The Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic said on their website: “Calcium allows blood to clot normally, muscles and nerves to function properly, and the heart to beat normally.
“Most of the calcium is found inside your bones. Inadequate calcium intake may also increase blood pressure and increase your risk for high blood pressure.”
Health organisation, Bupa, also recommend adding more calcium to one’s diet to help improve high blood pressure.
People with low calcium intake have been shown to have high blood pressure.
The British Dietetic Association lists the best sources of calcium which include:
- Milk (all types) – 200ml contains 240mg of calcium
- Yoghurt – 120g contains 200mg of calcium
- Tofu – 60g contains 200mg of calcium
- Calcium enriched orange juice – 15mls contains 180g of calcium
- Pitta bread – 65g contains 60mg of calcium
- Broccoli (boiled) – 75g contains 34mg of calcium
In a study with the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, daily calcium intake and it’s relation to blood pressure was investigated.
The study noted: “Several studies revealed that low calcium intake is related to high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.”
The aim of the study was to evaluate the status of calcium intake between the hypertension and normotension groups and to investigate the correlation between dietary calcium intake and blood pressure.
In conclusion, the daily calcium intake of hypertension patients tended to be lower than that of normotensive subjects.
Also, relative to animal-based foods, plant-based foods were high contributors to calcium sources for both hypertension and normotension subjects.
When a person’s calcium intake is low, they can develop high blood pressure due to non-relaxed smooth muscles.
The strain on the arteries and blood vessels makes them narrower, therefore, increasing the pressure of the blood flowing through.
Over time, it can cause heart and kidney diseases.
The tension is not something that develops overnight, it is a gradual development. If you suspect you might have high blood pressure, it’s important to speak with your GP about the best treatment options.
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