Rakhi Chowdhary asked:


Are you health conscious??? If you have a better idea to reduce high blood pressure, let us know, your views and comments will be appreciated. High blood pressure, commonly known as Hypertension/arterial hypertension is a state of body in which blood pressure in your body is chronically increased. In this techno world, hypertension is the most common disease, people are becoming careless and life has become so fast that very few of us are truly health conscious. With digitization of world, moving towards automation from manual systems, fast food has become way of life. Truth is that today we are not able to intake fresh food – vegetables and fruits that we consume all have high concentration of chemicals and pesticides that indirectly affect our health. But in case you are unaware about blood pressure then this is the right time to have a better understanding about blood pressure. Blood pressure also known as vascular pressure relates to the force applied by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. In medical terms, it can be defined as the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.

The important factor to note is that every time your heart beats, it impels out blood into the arteries. The heart which acts as a vital muscular pump applies the pressure to circulate the blood throughout the body. The blood vessels called arteries have resilient walls and so provide some resistance during the flow of blood. Thus, there is pressure in the system, even between heartbeats. Blood pressure alters during the day and it gets lower when you sleep and rises when you get up. It may rise when you are excited or tensed.

Now, blood pressure is calculated in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and BP reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. However, BP of 140/90 mmHg or higher is measured arterial hypertension and commonly known as “Silent Killer”. Any individual with arterial hypertension can be very dangerous and is one of major risk factors for Stroke, Heart Attack or Kidney Damage. Moreover, hypertension is the next major threat for congestive heart failure. In congestive heart failure the pumping power of heart gets lowered, beating gets harder and harder and as a result heart losses its ability to pump sufficient blood to meet up the body’s requirements. In addition to this high BP can also lead to burst of eyes blood vessels. Therefore it becomes very important to control high BP.

The frequency of people suffering from high BP increases naturally with age and can be often related to lifestyle habits. Ayurvedic health care acts as anti-hypertensive for maintaining pressure of blood in your body. These days most doctors advise patients to re-establish your BP 80/120 level by making changes in lifestyle. Some of the natural and effective ways to bring down rising pressure of blood are:

1. Reduce salt intake: Now it is very important to understand that high consumption of salt is directly linked to high blood pressure. Commit yourself to consume not more than 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day, which estimates around 1 teaspoon of salt. You can lower your sodium intake by eating less processed and fast foods.

2. Quit smoking: The nicotine in cigarettes makes your blood vessels to compress and heart to beat faster, which automatically results in raising your blood pressure. If you are a smoker then make sure to quit smoking. By quitting you can keep your blood pressure in line and this in turn helps in reducing the threat of cardiovascular disease.

3. Reduce your extra body weight: Make sure your body weight does not exceed; it should be proportionate to your height. As per recent studies it has been proved that high blood pressure has a direct link to overweight. The more weight you have, higher is the chance of having high blood pressure. Keeping weight off is one of the most vital tactics for calculating blood pressure. Even losing a pound in a week can be a noteworthy step in the right direction.

4. Limit alcohol consumption: This is one of the most important ways to reduce high blood pressure. It is important to understand; in case of healthy people alcohol does not cause hypertension while in some it does not. If you drink alcohol try to have limited consumption 1 or 2 drinks per day. If your blood pressure rises with alcohol, it is better to avoid drinking alcohol.

5. Do exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps in lowering your blood pressure. It further helps in lowering cholesterol, and stress management. Perform any activity that you enjoy like walking, jogging, or swimming. Initially start your work-out slowly and then work your way up to 30-60 minute sessions of moderate exercise each week. Then, slowly begin aerobic exercise into your daily life; increase the time and intensity at a speed and try for at least 30-minute workout in most days of the week.

According to recent studies the ratio of high blood pressure is increasing day by day and because it does not show any symptoms most of the nearly don’t know they have high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to various disease so have proper medical check up and normal blood pressure to live a healthy life. Healthy lifestyle is key of maintain your blood pressure, give away your tension.



Michelle

lindsay lohan asked:


I always have to take blood pressure twice at doctors visits because at the begining its always really high. The second time they take it is still really high though.

How do I make my blood pressure go down and calm my nerves?

Arnold

Nick asked:


When I was at school, my university doctor diagnosed me with high blood pressure. I took medication (Atenol sp?) for a while before running out and summer vacation starting. I saw my family doctor at home now 3 months into summer vacation, and he said my blood pressure is fine.

I recently decided to log my blood pressure over the past month. Thus far in the morning it’s averaging at 135/79, and at night 136/85. Hypertension starts at 140/90, which it looks like I’m just beneath. My family doctor says im in the 95th percentile for my age in blood pressure, but 95 still in the range that it’s normal…

Should I be getting a third opinion? Could it be higher because of the stress at school? Should I be taking blood pressure meds? I really dont wanna die of a heart attack when I’m 35, so advice is appreciated here.

Jamie

Alisha Dhamani asked:


Low blood pressure is a difficult clinical finding for a healthcare provider to address. While high blood pressure is known as the “silent killer,” because it is associated with few acute symptoms, hypotension (hypo=low + tension=pressure) may be normal for a patient if it is without symptoms, but can be of great importance if it is associated with abnormal body function.

Sometimes low is good, a goal to be achieved in keeping blood pressure under control. Sometimes low is bad because there is not enough pressure to provide blood flow to the organs of the body.

For low blood pressure to be a problem there needs to be a symptom associated with that low number. Readings below 120/80 may be normal depending upon the clinical situation. Many people have systolic blood pressures below 100, but some people develop symptoms with pressures that low. Symptoms of low blood pressure occur because one or more of the body’s organs is not getting enough blood supply.

If low blood pressure is the normal state for a patient, then there will be no symptoms. If low blood pressure is symptomatic, then the patient may feel lightheaded, dizzy and weak, short of breath, or have chest pain. The symptoms will depend upon which organ in the body is lacking adequate blood flow.

Blood pressure readings have two parts and are expressed as a ratio. “Normal” blood pressure, for example is 120/80 (120 over 80) and measures the pressure within the arteries of the body. Systolic pressure, the upper number, measures the pressure within the arteries when the heart is contracting (systole) to pump blood to the body. Diastole pressure, the lower number, measures resting pressures within the arteries, when the heart is at rest.

Normal blood pressure depends on many factors including age and body size. Infants and children have lower normal readings than adults. Smaller or petite patients may have lower normal blood pressure ranges.

According to American Heart Association guidelines, any reading greater than 120/80 is considered pre-hypertension or early high blood pressure.

You can think of the heart and the blood vessels (arteries and veins) as a system to pump blood, just like the oil pump in your car. Oil is pumped through rigid tubes. Pressure remains relatively constant throughout the pumping cycle unless the pump fails or there is an oil leak. Then oil pressure will fall.

The body is similar, except that the tubes have pliable walls, meaning that the space within the arteries can get bigger or smaller. If the space gets bigger, there is effectively less fluid, and pressure falls. If the space gets smaller, pressure goes up. Arteries have layers of muscles within their walls that can contract and narrow the artery, making less space inside the vessels.

Alternatively, the muscles can relax and dilate the artery, making more room. These muscles are under the control of the autonomic nervous system, the body’s automatic system that makes adjustments for moment-to-moment changes in the relationship of the body to the world. The autonomic nervous system has two pathways that balance each other.

The sympathetic nervous system uses adrenaline (epinephrine) to cause the muscles to contract (sympathetic tone). The nerves that help with this control are located in the sympathetic trunk, which is a group of nerves that runs alongside the spinal column. The parasympathetic system uses acetylcholine to make muscles in the blood vessel walls relax via the vagus nerve.

As an example, when you stand up, the blood vessels have to narrow just a little to cause a slight increase in blood pressure, so that blood can travel uphill to the brain. Without that change, you might feel lightheaded or pass out.

If low blood pressure causes clinical symptoms, the cause will be in one of three general categories. Either the heart is not pumping with enough pressure, the artery walls are too dilated, or there is not enough intravascular fluid (intra=within + vascular= blood vessels) within the system.

The heart is an electrical pump. Problems with either the pump or the electricity can cause problems with low blood pressure.

The valves of the heart allow blood to flow in only one direction. If a valve fails, blood can regurgitate backwards, minimizing the amount that will flow out to the body. If a valve becomes narrowed (stenotic), then blood flow may be decreased. Both situations may cause hypotension.

If the heart beats too quickly, blood pressure may fall because there isn’t enough time for the heart to refill in between each beat (diastole). If the heart beats too slowly, there may be too much time spent in diastole when blood is not flowing.

If the heart muscle has been damaged or irritated, there may not be enough pumping force to maintain blood pressure. In heart attack (myocardial infarction), enough heart muscle may be stunned so that the heart is too weak to pump effectively.

Diuretic medications [for example, hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril), furosemide (Lasix)] are used to control blood pressure by causing the kidneys to make more urine and decreasing the intravascular volume. If the patient loses too much water and becomes dehydrated, low blood pressure may result.

Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are two commonly prescribed medications used for the treatment of high blood pressure. They may cause the heart to beat too slowly and thus cause hypotension. Any heart medication needs to be monitored by a healthcare provider to evaluate the body’s response and to select the appropriate dose.

Medications like sildenafil (Viagra) in combination with nitroglycerin may cause blood vessel dilation and low blood pressure.

Normal physiologic changes in pregnancy increase the intravascular space, especially in the first two trimesters, and can cause lower blood pressure. One of the complications of diabetes is damage to the nerves in the body, including those in the autonomic nervous system.

In those people with diabetes who have autonomic dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension can occur. The blood vessels are unable to adjust to quick positional changes.

If low blood pressure causes lack of blood flow to the organs of the body, then those organs will start to fail. This may result in stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and bowel ischemia (decreased blood supply to the small and large intestine). Shock and death are the end result of prolonged low blood pressure.



Steve

David Riewe asked:


Knowing about your body can be very beneficial to your health as you age. Knowing about your blood pressure can help prevent strokes, heart disease and kidney disease. In this article you will find everything you should know about your blood pressure.

Anyone can have high blood pressure. It doesn’t matter your age, race, ethnicity or gender. Many people suffer from high blood pressure and have a higher risk of strokes and heart diseases than those with regular blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure is always rising and falling throughout the day and if it rises and stays that way over time, you have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is usually referred to as hypertension. When you have high blood pressure it puts more pressure on the heart, making it work harder than usual. This is why you end up at risk for strokes or heart disease.

What is the normal blood pressure level?

The normal blood pressure level is less than 120 over 80 or less. The first number is your systolic pressure and the second number is your diastolic pressure. Your numbers are read 120 over 80, etc. If your pressure is 140 over 90 or higher you have high blood pressure.

What is systolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is beating.

What is diastolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is relaxing.

What are the risk factors of high blood pressure?

The most common risks of high blood pressure are stroke and heart disease. There are a few other risk factors that can be modified and some that cannot be. The following are some risks:

? Tobacco

? Physical Inactivity

? Diabetes

? Abnormal Cholesterol

? Being overweight

Who can get high blood pressure?

Unfortunately anyone can get high blood pressure but it is more common among African Americans. Nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. African Americans also have a much higher death rate from kidney disease and stroke than white Americans. Even so, with treatment you can help lower your blood pressure.

How can I lower my blood pressure?

Fortunately there are many different ways of helping to lower your blood pressure. Exercise is a great way to lower it. Doing physical activity will make your heart stronger over time. If you have a stronger heart it can pump blood easier lessening your risks of stroke and kidney diseases. It is never too late to start exercising!

If you are concerned about your blood pressure consult your physician. Ask any and all questions you might have and find the best way for you to lower it. If all regular ways fail, consider medication. Talk with your doctor about your health and lifestyle so he can choose the best medicine for you. If you want to live a healthy life, taking control of your blood pressure is very important.



Randy

comanchesongbird asked:


My son is 13 and 5′8 and is 260lbs. He was told his blood pressure was hight at the time it was 170/80. He was put on enalapril..5 mg a day…. he has been on it for 4 days and tongiht his blood pressure read 173/85 what is the normal brood pressure for a 13 year old and why isn’t it going down?

Lisa

MejoJohn asked:


Blood pressure indicates the force exerted by the blood against the blood vessel walls. Blood pressure is generated by the heart pumping blood into the arteries and is regulated by the response by the arteries to the flow of blood. The blood pressure of an individual is expressed in two ways – systolic and diastolic blood pressure. For instance if the blood pressure reading is shown as 120 / 80, then the systolic blood pressure (the top number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart contracts and pumps blood into them and the diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart relaxes after it contracts.

Blood pressure always is higher when the heart is pumping than when it is relaxing. Blood pressure represents one of the principal vital signs of life, which include heart beat, rate of breathing, and temperature.

It is seen that the systolic blood pressure for most healthy adults ranges between 90 and 120 millimeters of mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure falls between 60 and 80 mm Hg. Blood pressures reading over 130/80 are considered as high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of developing cardiac problems, kidney disorders, hardening of arteries, eyesight problems, paralytic stroke etc. Low blood pressure, known as hypotension, is due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. When the flow of blood is too low and fails to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, the organs are not able to function normally and get permanently damaged.

It is to be noted that unlike high blood pressure, low blood pressure is diagnosed primarily by signs and symptoms of low blood flow and not by any specific blood pressure number. Some individuals may have a blood pressure of 90/50 with no symptoms of low blood pressure and therefore can be considered as not having low blood pressure. But strangely those who normally have high blood pressure may develop symptoms of low blood pressure if their blood pressure drops to 100/60.

High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, causes the heart to overwork to force blood through the circulatory system. Over time, this excess strain can severely damage the heart’s muscle and tissue. It can also lead to hardening of the arteries called in medical circles as atherosclerosis. Persons suffering from high blood pressure run a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke. Furthermore, high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease, severe eye damage including loss of vision.

As per recent estimates, nearly one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, but because they do not experience any symptoms, most of them do not know they suffer from high blood pressure. As a matter of fact, many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. This is why high blood pressure is often described as the “silent killer.” The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.

It is said that in the United States, almost 70 percent of people above the age of 65 have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also common among people of all ages who are overweight. A number of risk factors are said to contribute to high blood pressure, although the exact reasons are still somewhat unknown. People who have no physical activity and eat poor and irregular diets are more prone to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can often be controlled with drugs but lifestyle changes are the best prescription for long term remedy.



Dora

Princess asked:


Today I found out that my blood pressure is low, 60/80

What are some causes of low blood pressure?
And how can I bring my blood pressure back up to normal?
no you read it correctly its 60/80
sorry that is 80/60, i was a little confused
I would like to add that this low blood pressure is accompanied by dizziness, especially upon standing up, fatigue, and other feelings of weakness.

Sandra

punkangel0331 asked:


I have somewhat high blood pressure right on the edge of being stage one hypertension. I don’t want to take medication because A.) I don’t have insurance at the moment and B.) Blood pressure medication is bad for the liver.

So the question is: how can I lower my blood pressure without using medication? Thanks!

Claude

EthanMN asked:


I have untreated high blood pressure (usually around 144/99). I am taking my blood pressure each day to monitor the situation and establish what level I am at. I know I need to go on medication, but I want a medication that will have few side effects. I am particularly concerned about sexual side effects and I would still like to be able to have a couple drinks now and again.

Betty