High Blood Pressure is one of the most common complaints as after 55 years the majority of people have the potential to be sufferers and it gets more likely with age. It can also be found in young people, and it is particularly dangerous because there are no obvious warning signs. High Blood Pressure increases your chance of heart disease, kidney disease or stroke and it can affect people regardless of Gender, race or age although some are more at risk than others. There is no cure but it can be controlled most often by lifestyle and also medical treatment if it is too severe. For a natural cure for high blood pressure please visit Here
High Blood Pressure or Hypertension
The heart pumps blood round the arteries at a certain pressure when the body asks for more the heart pumps more and the pressure increases. When it increases and stays high it is called Hypertension or High Blood Pressure.
How can it be detected and what are the measurements?
A doctor or nurse using an sphygmomonometer and a stethoscope or a fully automatic variation can measure blood pressure. In some countries you can buy the equipment yourself but a medical practitioner should be consulted at the first opportunity although there are many ways in which you can limit the problem in the first place by your lifestyle. Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg and there are too figures
Systolic Blood Pressure is the pressure measured when the heart beats and forces the blood through the arteries and is the first figure noted.
Diastolic Blood Pressure is the pressure measured when the heart relaxes and is the second figure noted.
• 1) A Blood Pressure of 140/90mmHg is considered to be high and should be addressed.
• 2) If you have a Blood Pressure between 120/80mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg then you are generally considered to have Hypertension.
• 3) Stage 1 Hypertension is Systolic Pressure from140 to 159mm Hg and Diastolic 90 to 99mm Hg and Stage 2 Hypertension is Systolic Pressure from160mm Hg and above, Diastolic 100mm Hg and above. At these stages your medical practitioner will advise your best course of action.
• 1) 4) Normal Blood pressure is usually Systolic Pressure less than 120mm Hg and Diastolic Pressure less than 80mm Hg
Care must be taken when the readings are recorded as the patient should be calm, relaxed and not have taken recent exercise that would increase the normal readings.
What are the causes and effects of High Blood Pressure?
The main causes are:-
• 1) Narrowing of the arteries causing a restriction in the flow.
• 2) Heart beating faster than normal
• 3) Greater volume of Blood
• 4) Other medical problems
The main effects are:-
• 1) High Blood Pressure can cause hardening of the arteries restricting the flow of blood causing the heart to work harder making it more susceptible to problems.
• 2) High Blood Pressure can cause small arteries to bleed in the brain causing a stroke.
• 3) High Blood Pressure can cause small arteries to bleed in the eye causing blurred vision or blindness.
• 4) High Blood Pressure can cause a narrowing of the arteries to the kidney and waste builds up requiring dialysis or a transplant.
What are the main medical problems?
• a) Heart disease
• b) Kidney disease
• c) Stroke
• d) Eyesight problems
Who are at risk?
• a) Most people over 55 have a chance of developing usually it is the Systolic reading that increases and this often continues with age. The diastolic pressure increases for a few years and then reduces its rise. Most elderly people have isolated Systolic Hypertension. High Blood Pressure in younger people tends, although not exclusively, to be with high diastolic pressure. In both cases there is a need for treatment.
• b) People who are overweight
• c) People who smoke
• d) People who have a family history of High Blood Pressure
• e) People of African American origin are high-risk group that can be vulnerable early in life.
Treatment
a) Lifestyle
So much can be done to reduce High Blood Pressure by Lifestyle that it becomes the most important controller in its treatment. It can be controlled by:-
• 1) Losing weight if it is higher than recommended. Even a few pounds make a mammoth difference.
• 2) Improving physical fitness. Walking for 30 minutes per day in particular helps. Start slowly and work up to over an hour with suitable warming up and cooling down periods.
• 3) Having a healthy diet. It may not be what everybody wants but it is probably the most important. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, keep the intake of diary products to a minimum, keep saturated fat content low, reduce salt intake, reduce red meats and eat poultry and fish.
• 4) Drink alcohol in moderation
Stress also increases Blood Pressure but it usually reduces when the stress goes down with no long lasting effect.
b) Medical Treatments
If the problem has gone too far or lifestyle changes have no effect then medication may be necessary. The major treatments only to be used under strict medical care are.
1) Medication to slow the heart rate by blocking some of the nerve impulses to the heart.
2) Medication to remove excess fluids and Sodium
3) Inhibiters that reduces narrowing of the arteries/li>
4) Dilators that relax muscles and allow the arteries to widen.
What ever you do take care and consult a medical practitioner earlier rather than later, it is a time when a healthy life can be a happy life.
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