Food and nutrition
Nadir is 35 years old and loves his job as a computer programmer. He’s gained about 15 lb since he graduated from college, but he thinks that’s probably normal. He loves eating out and is very glad he can now afford to do so two or three times a week. He never really enjoyed sports and generally enjoys sedentary hobbies like reading, playing board games, and watching movies. At his last physical, his blood pressure was 150/95 mm Hg. His doctor prescribed blood pressure-lowering medication and also recommended that he start to exercise regularly and try to lose some weight. Nadir likes his current lifestyle and would rather just take the medication to keep his blood pressure under control.
Why would it be a good idea for Nadir to exercise and modify his eating habits, rather than simply taking the medication?
Because Nadir is not very motivated to make lifestyle and behavioral changes, what suggestions would you make to him?
Nadir should exercise and modify his eating habits in order to control his high blood pressure, despite the fact that taking medication might be a more convenient option. Studies have shown that regular physical activity can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Szulc et al., 2020). This is due to the fact that exercise increases heart rate, which in turn pumps more oxygenated blood throughout the body (U.S Department of Health & Human Services, 2018). Additionally, exercising regularly helps reduce stress levels as well as strengthen muscle tissue and bone density (Suragamage & Wimalasiri 2019) , all of which contribute towards improved cardiovascular health .
Modifying one’s diet is also an effective way to manage high blood pressure. Dietary changes such as reducing sodium intake or increasing consumption of potassium-rich fruits or vegetables can help bring down elevated readings quickly (Chobanian et al., 2003 ). In addition, making sure to eat smaller portions at meal times while avoiding processed foods helps provide long term benefits by maintaining healthy weight levels , which in turn reduces strain on the circulatory system over time(Koufman et al., 2016).
Finally, although medications are useful for controlling dangerous spikes in blood pressure they may not always be sufficient when it comes to addressing underlying causes behind hypertension (Alonzo & Kramer 2015). Moreover , certain drugs come with side effects including dizziness or headaches which could potentially affect Nadir’s ability to carry out everyday activities.Therefore, incorporating lifestyle changes into Nadir’s regimen would undoubtedly give him better overall health results than just relying on medications alone.
