Cedric Cruz, Staff Writer
Featured image courtesy of Sean (HazPhotos)
Blood pressure isn’t a problem that many young students feel the need to worry about at their age, but there are steps that students can take to make sure they never have to deal with BP highs and lows, even in the distant future.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, blood pressure is “a measure of the pressure or force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels (known as arteries).” A blood pressure reading is based on two numbers. These are the systolic, which refers to the pressure at which the heart pumps out blood, and diastolic, which is the pressure of the heart between heartbeats. Blood pressure readings are generally categorized as low risk (120/80), medium risk (121-139/80-89), and high risk (140+/90).
One of the leading health problems associated with poor BP is hypertension. It can eventually lead to a stroke and/or heart disease because in this condition the arteries are elevated and the heart pumps blood harder than normal so that it can reach the blood vessels.
Many students do not pay much attention to this. “I am not aware of my blood pressure,” says Alex Qiu, a third-year biology student. “But I do an annual check up with my health care provider and it is pretty normal. However, everyone should be aware of their health.”
Hypertension and blood pressure issues can be prevented and controlled through maintenance of body weight, eating a balanced diet (more fruits and vegetables), moderate alcohol intake, and consuming less sodium. Fast food especially tends to be relatively sodium-heavy and eating it regularly can have a negative impact on your BP.
Careful stress management is also key to maintaining a healthy blood pressure level, as the research of Jane Irvine, a kinesiology professor at York, has demonstrated.
Blood pressure problems may seem to be an issue your parents or grandparents have to deal with, not you. But never forget that when it comes to taking care of your health, prevention is better than a cure.
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