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In Singapore, almost one in four residents have hypertension. This can be commonly seen in adults aged 30 to 69 years old. Hypertension is when you have either systolic BP 140mmHg or more or diastolic BP 90mmHg or more. It can be both as well. 

In most cases, it is very hard to pinpoint the cause of hypertension but risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, smokers and also those who have high blood cholesterol do have a higher risk of developing hypertension. What’s scary about hypertension is that those who suffer from it usually do not experience any symptoms, just headaches occasionally or giddiness. As these symptoms are very common in other diseases, hypertension can go unnoticed easily until other life-threatening illness or sickness sets in. 

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Though it is not life-threatening, if left untreated it can lead to serious complications such as coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and more when your blood pressure shoots up high and cause damage to your organs. 

Hypertension is usually controlled with medication for those with higher blood pressure readings. As for the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach, patients will be prescribed with an oral herbal prescription, acupuncture and also cupping or tuina massages to help manage the blood pressure. That being said, it is still advisable to seek western medical treatments to prevent any complications that might arise from hypertension.

A change in your lifestyle is as essential as going for treatments to keep your blood pressure under control to prevent any complications! Here are some changes you can do to your lifestyle to manage hypertension:

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  • Limit your intake on all types of fats and go for unsaturated fats instead of saturated ones. 
  • Cut down on foods which are high in cholesterol. 
  • Limit your alcohol intake to no more than two glass per day. 
  • Start exercising regularly! It is recommended to exercise for 150 minutes per week, each session lasting at least 10 minutes.  
  • Try TCM Health supplements for cholesterol support but consult your doctor to see if you are suitable before adding to your diet.  

If you can, prepare your own meal to cut down on unhealthy cholesterol! Eat lots of leafy greens which are rich in potassium as potassium helps the kidney to remove sodium from the body through urination, lowering your blood pressure. Alternatively, blend them to make juices! Mulberry tea with chrysanthemum is also good for the body!