Jeremiah Slivka asked:


What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure consists of two number; a top and bottom number. The top number is the systolic pressure. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure.

Systolic blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries as your heart beats. If your systolic number is higher than one hundred and forty you have high blood pressure. Even if your diastolic number is not high you can still have ‘isolated systolic hypertension.’ This means only your systolic number is high.

This is more common for older Americans. This pressure usually increases with age whereas diastolic pressure decreases after fifty-five. You might not know if you have isolated systolic hypertension so ask your doctor if you are concerned.

Diastolic blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats. For younger people this is a very important number. The higher this pressure is the more you are at risk. This blood pressure lowers as you get older and your systolic increases. Therefore diastolic is more important in younger people and systolic in older.

Normal blood pressure is less than one hundred and twenty over less than eighty. If your pressure is between the normal numbers and one hundred and thirty-nine over eighty-nine, you have what is called prehypertension. This puts you at risk to develop high blood pressure in the future but it easily preventable.

Hypertension is a name for high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease or even strokes. High blood pressure makes your heart work harder than it should and can lead to blindness, kidney disease and even congestive heart failure.

According to statistics high blood pressure killed over fifty-four thousand people in 2004. Statistics also show that twenty-eight percent of people have high blood pressure and aren’t even aware of it. Are you one of them?

You should be aware of the risks of high blood pressure so you can avoid them as best as you can. High blood pressure is a risk for stroke and heart disease. While some risks can be altered or fixed, some cannot. For instance if you use tobacco or are overweight you are at risk for high blood pressure.

You can easily fix this by trying to quit using tobacco and watching your diet to help lose weight. If you have trouble doing either of these on your own, consult your physician. They may be able to prescribe you something or give you useful information to help.

High blood pressure can affect certain parts of your body as well. You might suffer from a stroke. This happens because the high blood pressure can break a weak blood vessel leaving it to bleed into the brain. Also if you have a blood clot blocking a narrow artery, you can also experience a stroke.

Sometimes impaired vision or blindness can occur from high blood pressure. It might eventually cause your blood vessels in your eye to bleed or burst leaving you with blurred or impaired vision.

Your arteries harden as you age, even more so for those in your heart, brain and kidneys. These harder arteries are associated with high blood pressure. When this happens your kidneys and heart have to work harder. If you have any questions or concerns about your blood pressure ask your doctor. They can answer any questions you might have and find a solution if you do in fact have high blood pressure or might be prone to it. It’s never too late to take care of your body, including your blood pressure.



Cindy

SANJAY KAK asked:


The high blood pressure in medical term is called Hypertension, which means high pressure in the arteries. As you know arteries are vessels and job of arteries is to carry blood from the heart to all organs of the body. Our heart is working round the clock pumping blood in and out of heart.

The normal blood pressure is considered when you have Systolic reading below 120 and Diastolic reading below 80 (120/80). The high blood pressure in medical term is called hypertension, which means high pressure in the arteries. As you know arteries are vessels and job of arteries is to carry blood from the heart to all organs of the body. Our heart is working round the clock pumping blood in and out of heart.

The combination of both numbers gives us blood pressure of body. The top number is Systolic blood pressure and it corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The Systolic pressure reflects the highest pressure to which the arteries are exposed. The bottom number is Diastolic pressure and it corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart takes break after the contraction. The diastolic pressure reflects the lowest pressure to which the arteries are exposed.

Our blood pressure varies throughout the day by exercise, tension, sleep or walking. Any spike in Systolic or Diastolic blood pressure increases chance of heart failure. This can also lead to other diseases such as kidney (renal), arteries getting hardened, blood coming out of eye (vision damage) or brain damage. Considering the affects of high blood pressure or hypertension, it becomes very important to monitor your blood pressure. This will help to diagnose blood pressure problem in early stage and every effort can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications related to hypertension.

What can cause High Blood Pressure?

1. Heart failure can happen due to bigger heart.

2. Small bulges get formed in blood vessels; the common place to form is arteries, which take blood out from heart, or arteries in legs, brain and to other organs in body.

3. Shrinking of blood vessels.

4. The eyes can bleed or burst, which may lead to vision damage.

The high blood pressure doesn’t give any warning, because of this nature it s called as silent killer. This diseases can be countered by Medication, exercise and changes in lifestyle.



Norma

SANJAY KAK asked:


Choosing blood pressure medications – This is the biggest dilemma one faces while going through high blood pressure disease. Most of the time your dilemma will be solved by your doctor, his expertise of disease and knowledge of your medical condition will decide what medication is suited best for your body. According to National High Blood Pressure Education Program has recommended established guidelines for high blood pressure. This is a coalition of doctors, professionals, and voluntary organizations and government.

The information about medication mentioned here may differ from what your doctor has advised you. This depend what level of high blood pressure you are having and in what medical condition you are in. There are people with other diseases apart from high blood pressure, in such cases it gets more complicated and this needs to be treated with combination multiple drugs.

Pre-Hypertension (120/80 – 139/89)

This is the stage when one starts developing high blood pressure. There are no major sign, which will tell you that you are having high blood pressure. If this remains undetected, this has chance of growing into high blood pressure. Undetected high blood pressure is dangerous situation and can lead to heart failure and kidney failure.

At this stage with changes in lifestyle focusing on eating and exercise can reduce high blood pressure. Ensure you are in touch with your doctor; proper diet plan and changes in lifestyle will help you in lowering high blood pressure.

Changes needed in your lifestyle are as follows:



1. Low intake of salt and sodium in your diet.

2. Stop smoking.

3. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and low fat diary products.

4. Excess weight in your body does no good to you; it puts more pressure on heart to pump blood into vessels. Maintain healthy weight.

5. Daily exercise is needed for 30 minutes and more. In the beginning you can break this exercise into 2 or 3 parts spread across the day. There can be many ways you can do exercise, starting with simple brisk walk, dog walking, swimming, light exercise running etc. Please take doctor’s advice before doing any active exercise.

6. Stop alcohol drinks, no good to your health.



In case you have other diseases along with prehypertension, you might need medication; your doctor will be in better position to advise you about medication.

High blood pressure (140/90 to 159/99)

Stage 1 of diseases

Once your blood pressure numbers are between 140/90 and 159/89 you have progressed from prehypertension to stage 1 high blood pressure. I both numbers (top – systolic and bottom – diastolic) are high or in this range leads to stage 1 of high blood pressure.

At this point your doctor may recommend you trying diuretics. The diuretics are also called water pills. The objective of diuretics is to flush excess water and sodium from the body. The lowering of excess water and sodium helps in lowering the blood pressure and with major changes in lifestyle will help in reducing blood pressure.

Doctor will recommend you medication and changes in lifestyle to control your blood pressure. Depending upon medical condition you might need only diuretic medication with changes in lifestyle to control your blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Drugs:



Calcium Channel Blockers – The goal of the drug is to prevent calcium going into heart and blood vessel, which causes cells to relax and lowers blood pressure.

Beta Blockers – This drug helps in reducing nerve signal to heart and blood vessel, which in turn helps in lowering blood pressure.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme – This drug helps blood vessel to relax and helps blood vessel not to narrow. This drug is also helpful in reducing blood pressure.

Your doctor may recommend you one of these medications to bring down blood pressure. There can be other complications such as one suffering from diabetes etc. In such situation a combination of drug is needed to reduce blood pressure.



High blood pressure (160/100 to Above)

Stage 2 of diseases

Now if your blood pressure numbers are falling in the range of 160/100 and above, this is alarming situation. You now are in stage 2 category. At this point your doctor will prescribe you couple of medications to quickly reduce high blood pressure. Even in this case your doctor will start medication with diuretics to flush out excess water and sodium from the body. Keeping your high blood pressure number in view, your doctor will prescribe you more medication to lower blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Drugs:



Beta Blocker – This drug helps in reducing nerve signal to heart and blood vessel, lowering stress on heart helps lowering blood pressure.

ACE inhibitor – This drug helps blood vessel from getting narrow, which lowers pressure on heart and lowers blood pressure.

Calcium Channel Blocker – The drug prevents calcium going into heart and blood vessel. This helps cells to relax and which in turn lowers blood pressure.

Angiotensin II receptor blocker – This medication helps in widening blood vessel and stops hormone called angiotensin from affecting blood vessels.



At such higher elevation blood pressure can cause kidney failure and heart stroke problems. In stage 2 hypertension, aggressive treatment and strong discipline for lifestyle in needed to lower blood pressure.

Take control of your medical situation by consulting doctor in early stages and bringing changes in your lifestyle. The medication and changes in lifestyle go hand in hand; strong discipline will surely lower blood pressure. Lastly monitor your blood pressure, at least 2-3 times a day. Do not depend entirely on this blood monitoring equipment and at no point discard visit to Doctor. Your doctor is best to judge your medical situation. The statistics have shown that a combination of good drugs and changes in lifestyle have helped patient to lower blood pressure.



Louis

Juliet Cohen asked:


High blood pressure or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke, especially when it’s present with other risk factors. High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it’s more common among people over age 35. It’s particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. Affecting approximately one in four adults in the United States, hypertension is clearly a major public health problem.

High blood pressure is called the silent killer. High blood pressure typically develops without signs or symptoms. and it affects nearly everyone eventually. There are two levels of high blood pressure: stage 1 and stage 2. It is less common in younger adults. Most cases are mildly high (up to 160/100 mmHg). However, at least 1 in 20 adults have blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg or above. High blood pressure is more common in people with diabetes. About 3 in 10 people with Type 1 diabetes and more than half of people with Type 2 diabetes eventually develop high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a ‘risk factor’ for developing a cardiovascular disease , and kidney damage, sometime in the future. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems with such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It is estimated that one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Some people can prevent or control high blood pressure by changing to healthier habits.

Calcium channel blockers may work better for blacks than do ACE inhibitors or beta blockers alone. Some medicines lower blood pressure by removing extra fluid and salt from your body. Others affect blood pressure by slowing down the heartbeat or by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Diuretics are sometimes called water pills. They work by helping your kidneys flush excess water and salt from your body. Beta blockers help your heart beat slower and with less force. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors keep your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are newer blood pressure medicines that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels. Vasodilators open blood vessels by directly relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls, causing blood pressure to go down.

High Blood Pressure Treatment Tips

1. Diuretics are sometimes called water pills. They work by helping your kidneys flush excess water and salt from your body.

2. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors keep your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow.

3. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are newer blood pressure medicines that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II.

4. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels.

5. Alpha-beta blockers reduce nerve impulses to blood vessels the same way alpha blockers do, but they also slow the heartbeat, as beta blockers do.

6. Nervous system inhibitors relax blood vessels by controlling nerve impulses from the brain.

7. Vasodilators open blood vessels by directly relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls, causing blood pressure to go down.

8. Alpha-beta blockers- reducing nerve impulses to blood vessels, alpha-beta blockers slow the heartbeat to reduce the amount of blood.



Lydia

Kritnaphat N. asked:


You may know information about hypertension or high blood pressure. On the other hand, you may merely know about low blood pressure or hypotension.

Low blood pressure or hypotension is pressure that is lower than normal blood pressure. You may have low blood pressure if your blood pressure is 90/60 or lower.

Low blood pressure sign is the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. If you have low blood pressure, the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.

People who have lower blood pressures have a lower risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease. Athletes, people who exercise regularly, people who maintain ideal body weight, and non-smokers tend to have lower blood pressures. Therefore, low blood pressure is desirable as long as it is not low enough to cause symptoms and damage organs in the body.

The cause of low blood pressure is not being the exactly one but low blood pressure may be involved with pregnancy, hormonal problems, heart failure, heat exhaustion, or liver disease. In some other people, they have a low blood pressure because of some event or medical condition. Some people may experience symptoms of low pressure when standing up too quickly. Anyway low blood pressure is a problem only if it causes dizziness, fainting or in extreme cases, shock so that if you have low blood pressure problem you have to consult your doctor urgently to get an advise for control low blood pressure symptom.

Even low blood pressure is, normally, not cause you health complication but if low blood pressure is disturb your every day life, there are many way you can take care yourselves.

Good and health diet can help you to control low blood pressure. You should get nutrients completely for your body need by having a variety kind of foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean chicken and fish. You may add more salt in your foods as a bit amount of salt give you sodium can raise blood pressure. But you, importantly, should consult with your doctor before adding up your salt intake because having too mush sodium can lead to heart failure.

If you eat in small meal with low crab food, it can help prevent dropping sharply low blood pressure after meals. You should separate to eat in small portions and several times in a day and limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. Drinking a bit caffeinated coffee or tea with meals may temporarily raise blood pressure. However alcohol can cause lower blood pressure, even you drink in small amount. But you should drink more water because water against dehydration and increases blood level.

To go more slowly, you can reduce the dizziness and faintness that occurs with low blood pressure on standing by taking slowly movement when you change your position. Before getting out of bed in the morning, for example, breathe deeply for a few minutes and then slowly sit up before standing.

From all above, keeping healthy and have and good food can help you to maintain normal blood pressure and avoid low blood pressure.



Carla

Jeremiah Slivka asked:


What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of your blood against your artery walls. When you have your blood pressure checked the reading has two numbers; one on top and one on bottom.

The top number is your systolic pressure. This is the force of your blood in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number is your diastolic pressure. This is the force of your blood in your arteries when your heart relaxes in-between beats.

Normal blood pressure would be a reading of 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure would be a reading of 140/90 or higher. If you have high blood pressure you are at a greater risk of a stroke or heart and kidney disease.

Many things can cause high blood pressure including physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, stress and your diet. These are only a few things. Certain medical conditions and medications can also cause high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can cause your body to have certain effects. For instance it can cause a stroke. The high pressure can cause a weakened blood vessel to break causing it to bleed into the brain; thus leaving you with a stroke.

High blood pressure can also sometimes cause your blood vessels in your eyes to bleed or burst. If this happens your vision will be blurred or impaired and might even result in blindness. Another reason it is best to keep control on your blood pressure.

Along with a stroke or kidney disease high blood pressure can also cause a heart attack. Your arteries are what bring blood carrying oxygen to your heart muscle. If your heart is not getting enough oxygen you will experience chest pain. If the blood flow is blocked as well you will experience a heart attack.

Congestive Heart Failure is very common among people with high blood pressure. This is a very serious condition where your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the needs of your body. It is never too late to start taking control of your health starting with your blood pressure.

Anyone can develop high blood pressure, even children. It is more common for African Americans to develop it. Many Americans will develop high blood pressure as they age but that doesn’t mean it is healthy.

Obesity plays a role in high blood pressure. If you are over weight you are at a higher risk of having high blood pressure as well as a stroke or heart disease. Try to lose at least ten pounds and this will help lower your blood pressure significantly.

Eating a healthy diet is a great way to lower or control your blood pressure. Limit your intake of salt and sodium and introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Once you establish your healthy diet you will have less worry of developing high blood pressure.

You should always have your blood pressure checked at your regular doctor visits. If you have high blood pressure and are concerned you can easily monitor from home. If you do this you want to have your doctor look at your home monitoring device to help ensure it is effective and you are operating it correctly.

Keep track of your blood pressure readings so you can see what is helping and what isn’t. Sometimes regular lifestyle changes alone won’t help as much as they would combined with blood pressure medication. Your doctor will be able to tell you what the best option for your needs would be.



Alexander

Patricia Church asked:


Do you know what your blood pressure is? If not, you should! High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the number one risk factor for death and debilitation from a stroke. Longstanding hypertension can also damage the heart muscle, causing a condition known as congestive heart failure, in which the heart’s ability to squeeze and pump blood throughout the body is impaired. When this occurs, fluid can back up into the lungs, legs and throughout the body, leading to shortness of breath, weakness and potential renal failure. High blood pressure can also contribute to the development of coronary artery disease, causing the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle to become clogged. Coronary artery disease, in the form of a “heart attack” is a leading cause of death in the United States.

Systolic blood pressure, the top number of the blood pressure reading, indicates the amount of force exerted explosively against the blood vessel walls each time the heart contracts and pumps out blood. Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number of the reading, indicates the amount of pressure constantly present in the arteries when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood in preparation for the next contraction. The old standard for the upper end of a “normal” blood pressure reading was 140/90. That number has recently been revised, and at this time medical experts recommend the “normal” blood pressure should be kept at or below 120/70.

Because of these potentially serious health risks associated with hypertension, it’s a good idea for everyone to be aware of what their own blood pressure reading normally is. Hypertension doesn’t announce its presence with a fever, stomach pain or bleeding, which is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer”. Even seemingly healthy people can have high blood pressure, and not know it. Certainly individuals who do have identifiable risk factors for hypertension – like smoking, obesity, poor diet, excess sodium consumption, growing older (oops … that’s all of us!) should be aware that they are at risk for experiencing the consequences of chronic hypertension. The only way to find out for sure, however, is to have it checked. Unfortunately, many people only have their blood pressure taken when they are sitting in the doctor’s office in a skimpy gown, anxiously waiting for the exam room door to open. Of course, under these conditions, whose blood pressure wouldn’t be a little high? There is actually a term for this – it’s called “white coat syndrome”, because the anxiety experienced under these circumstances nearly always causes the blood pressure readings to be higher than they would in normal, more relaxed situations. The “white coat” blood pressure measurements may be inadequate to accurately assess what a person’s typical blood pressure reading is.

Usually, blood pressure readings are lowest in the morning when a person is first getting out of bed. It is quite typical for there to be many variations in blood pressure throughout the day related to anxiety, stress, activity, eating, sleep and relaxation. More accurate than the occasional reading taken in the doctor’s office, then, would be a regular measurement taken under similar circumstances, at the same time of day, in a relaxed environment.

Good news! Relaxed and more reliable blood pressure readings are now possible. There are quite a number of inexpensive blood pressure measuring devices available that are pretty easy to use at home.

Type #1: A digital monitor: Because the digital monitor is automatic, it is the most popular blood-pressure measuring device. The blood pressure measurement is easy to read, because the numbers are shown on a screen. Some electronic monitors even have a paper printout that gives you a record of the blood pressure reading.

The digital monitor is easier to use than the usual cuff and stethoscope system. It has a gauge and stethoscope in one unit, and the numbers are easy to read. It also has an error indicator, and deflation is automatic. Inflation of the cuff is either automatic or manual, depending on the model. This blood pressure monitoring device is good for hearing-impaired patients, since there is no need to listen to heart sounds through the stethoscope.

A disadvantage of the digital monitor is that the accuracy can be affected by body movements or an irregular heart rate. In addition, the monitor requires batteries. Some models are designed for use with the left arm only. This may make them hard for some patients to use. Finally, some digital monitors are expensive. They range in price from about $30 to over $100.

Type #2: A finger / wrist blood pressure monitor? Tests have shown that finger/wrist devices may not measure blood pressure as precisely as those devices that measure on the arm. The key to utilizing the results from these devices is to be very careful to follow the exact instructions for arm placement and positioning. Also, using the same device, with the same arm and body positioning, and measuring at the same time of the day will give consistent readings to use for comparison on a day to day basis. Many of these home models are priced less than $50.00. Important features to look for in a blood pressure monitor Make sure to get the proper cuff size. Blood pressure readings will be incorrect if your cuff is the wrong size, so ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to tell you the cuff size you need, based on the size of your arm. The numbers on the monitor must be easy for you to read. If you are using a stethoscope, you must be able to hear heart sounds through it.

Cost may be an important factor. Since home blood pressure units vary in price, you may have to shop around. The most expensive units might not be the best or the most accurate. Once you buy your monitor, take it to your doctor’s office to be checked for accuracy. Be aware that proper care and storage are also necessary. Make sure the tubing is not twisted when the monitor is stored, and keep it away from heat. Periodically check the tubing for cracks and leaks. Ask your doctor or nurse to teach you how to use your blood pressure monitor correctly.

Taking daily measurements and keeping a record to present to the doctor at each visit will enable him/her to better evaluate your “normal” blood pressure and to determine appropriate treatment measures. The American Heart Association has developed a blood pressure tracker that I highly recommend. I urge each of you to log on, sign up and begin to utilize this tool. At your next visit, bring these results for your doctor to review. This will insure that your next doctor visit will be a less anxious “white coat” situation, and more to the point of meeting your health needs.

You may wonder why I have gone into such detail about hypertension. Both of my parents have high blood pressure. My own blood pressure tends to run on the high side. My wonderful sister, Susan had high blood pressure, and was on daily medication at the age of 37. She died at age 38, in part, because an aneurism in her brain that had probably been there for many years ruptured. That rupture, and her ultimate death may very well have been prevented if she had not been extremely overweight and if her blood pressure had not been so high.

It’s one of my missions in life to help others become more healthy and to live a better life. Hypertension is one very big problem for a lot of people. The first step is to raise awareness and to develop an understanding of what the problem is. Now …go to the American Heart Association blood pressure tracker, log on and begin to monitor your own blood pressure readings.



Amanda

alistol asked:


High Blood pressure is known to be the silent killer by the medical practitioners as; it risks life without any warning. Without any serious symptoms and major complications it attacks the human body. Being unrecognized for years it brings severe perils like heart attack, kidney failure and stroke. Beware, silent is not gold in all the cases.

Technically, high blood pressure can be defined as the increased pressure of blood in the wall of the arteries. When arteries carry the blood pumped by the heart, blood flows with a resisting force towards the arteries. Hypertension or high blood pressure is the product of the flow of blood times the resistance in the blood vessels.

Facts about High Blood Pressure

• Uncontrolled blood pressure is the key to deaths, causing from heart failure and other heart diseases.

• The disease remains unrecognized for years as it has no proper symptoms or signs.

• Only way to detect the disease is measuring the blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.

• Not only stressed and tensed but also a normal healthy person can have high blood pressure.

• Person having a family history of hypertension or high blood pressure is more vulnerable to the disease.

• There is a myth about high blood pressure that it is not a disease but it is and as risky as any other severe disease.

• Smoking heavily, stressed lifestyle, obesity, high cholesterol diet and excessive use of stimulants are the master keys to the high blood pressure.

• High blood pressure is a factor in 67 percent of heart attacks all over the world.

• The key to prevent high blood pressure is a disciplined and healthy lifestyle.

Reasons behind the High Blood Pressure

What actually causes high blood pressure? Still a difficult question to answer as there are no certain reasons defined. Some of the most common reasons observed are chain smoking, heavy consumption of alcohol, mental stress, obesity etc. In some cases genetic factors, consumption of contraceptive pills, pain relievers, thyroid disease, diabetes, and kidney problem are present in the roots of developing high blood pressure.

Signs or Symptoms

No proper symptom but a lot of complications coming to the body is the most striking fact about the high blood pressure. The only way to detect high blood pressure is to

measure the blood pressure. Some most common symptoms are-

? Nervousness

? Fatigue and weakness

? Restlessness

? Insomnia

? Nose bleeding

? Emotional instability

? Dizziness

Treatment and Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose the high blood pressure by measuring the blood pressure and to keep it in control with proper medicines. They have to find out the reason responsible in a particular case for the high blood pressure. Their ultimate goal is to reduce systolic pressure of less than 140mmHg. Blood pressure is monitored regularly at specific time intervals until it is under control or to the normal level. Compounds used for the treatment are ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, Beta-blockers, Alpha-blockers, Calcium-channel blockers etc.

Reduce your chances of getting High Blood Pressure

Living a healthy lifestyle is your mantra to prevent high blood pressure. To minimize your chances of getting high blood pressure it is necessary to take some initial measures. Some key points are as follows:

? Reduce smoking as it is the most severe factor for high blood pressure.

? Intake of fiber rich diet can reduce the risks.

? Exercise regularly keeps your blood circulation regular.

? Avoid alcohol consumption as much as possible.

? Try to intake only medically prescript high-blood-pressure medicines.

? Try to use some herbal blood pressure reducing supplements which do not have any side effects.



Eddie

Darrell Miller asked:


High blood pressure, which is also called hypertension, affects about one in three adults. Although there are many causes of hypertension, there are not necessarily any symptoms, with 30% of people having high blood pressure not knowing it. Therefore, just because you don’t have symptoms doesn’t mean you don’t have high blood pressure, which is why it is called “the silent killer.” High blood pressure is very dangerous, being the number one cause of stroke, as well as the cause for heart attack and heart failure. Changing blood pressure numbers depends a great deal on the choices we make every day, such has how much we exercise, the foods we ear, and our overall lifestyle. However, for those times when extra help is needed, there is a new scientifically-studied supplement that will help us lower our blood pressure and give us better overall health.

Blood pressure is divided into two parts, systolic and diastolic. Systolic is the pressure of the heart beating; while diastolic is the pressure of the heart vessels when they are filling. Although a persons’ blood pressure can vary naturally throughout the day, if numbers are consistently high after many visits to the doctor, it is possible that you have pre-hypertension or high blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure numbers are about 115/75 mm/Hg. Arteries that are kept young through healthy diet and exercise are usually more elastic and unclogged compared to those that have plaque buildup from diets high in saturated fat and sedentary lifestyles. These unclogged arteries are able to transport blood through them easily and without much effort. However, clogged arteries result in faster blood flow, all of the time, which can cause damages to heart tissue, arteries, kidney, and other major organs in the long run.

High blood pressure can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors being: body type, sedentary lifestyle. Sodium intake, low potassium intake, heavy alcohol intake, unhealthy eating, and smoking. Although weight isn’t always a reliable indicator of whether or not you’ll have high blood pressure, the type of weight is. Lean body mass (muscle) doesn’t increase blood pressure levels, but fat does, especially when it is around your mid-section. Many of our jobs require us to sit all day at work and then we continue to sit more when we get home. With time, this leads to weight gain, which makes your heart work harder to pump blood through the body. Inactivity usually leads to higher heart rates. Even though salt intake itself isn’t necessarily bad, it leads to more water retention, which increases blood pressure. A moderate intake of salt, especially sea salt or Celtic salt, for healthy individuals is fine. Most Americans do not get enough potassium. It helps to regulate the amount of sodium in our cells and expels the rest to our kidneys. Low levels of potassium can lead to a build up of sodium in the body. Because having three or more alcoholic drinks a day doubles and individuals’ chance of developing high blood pressure, it is important to limit the amount of alcohol intake. Drinking a large amount will eventually put a lot of stress on the heart, liver, pancreas, and brain. Eating a lot of processed and fatty foods can lead to high blood pressure as well. By adapting a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain products, fish, nuts, magnesium, and potassium, blood pressure can be brought back down. Smoking damages the heart and arteries, while the nicotine constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate, and raises blood pressure. The carbon monoxide in smoke replaces oxygen in the blood, which makes the heart work even harder to make up for the difference. It is important if you have high blood pressure that you do not smoke.

Along with the above diet and lifestyle changes, there are other natural ways to lower blood pressure. These supplements include: fish oil, CoQ10, and garlic. Although these are very effective, they usually lower systolic pressure much more than diastolic pressure. There is a blend of natural ingredients that lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure separately and work even better combined, dandelion leaf extract, lycopene, stevia extract, olive leaf extract, and hawthorn extract. Dandelion leaf extract provides a healthy supply of vitamins, including vitamins A, B, C, D, iron, silicon, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and manganese. This extract produces a diuretic effect in the body relieving hypertension in the body by drawing excess water and sodium from the body and releasing it through the kidneys as urine, which allows the blood vessels to relax and in turn lowers blood pressure. Lycopene, which is mostly found in tomatoes and processed tomato products, has great antioxidant abilities as well as free-radical scavenging properties. It also lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, lowers homocysteine levels, and reduces blood platelet stickiness which leads to clogged arteries. Higher intakes of lycopene mean less thickening of arteries and a reduced risk of heart attack. Stevia extract, which is often used as a sweetener, relaxes arteries and helps to prevent the buildup of calcium on artery walls, which keeps them healthy and reduces blood pressure. Many scientific studies have proven that stevia controls blood sugar levels as well as has great potential in treating type 2 diabetes along with hypertension. Olive leaf extract relaxes blood vessels and prevents buildup of plaque in the arteries, which in turn lowers blood pressure. It also acts as an antioxidant. Hawthorn extract has been used to support heart health for many centuries. It improves blood pressure levels by increasing blood vessel elasticity, as well as improves coronary artery blood flow and contractions of the heart muscle. This supplement also has antioxidant properties, as well as the anti-anxiety abilities and blood sugar regulation properties.

After taking a combination of these herbs, you should notice both systolic and diastolic numbers lowering within two weeks. When you are taking herbs that support your blood pressure, it is important to keep it monitored so that you have an adequate reading of your numbers. To do so, you can purchase a home blood pressure monitoring device for thirty to two-hundred dollars. However, buying one in the thirty to fifty dollar range is sufficient and will be money well-spent. Although there are no side effects noted in the study, you may notice an increase in the number of trips you take to the bathroom do to the diuretic effect of the dandelion leaf extract. The vitamins mentioned above can be found at your friendly internet health food store.



Jackie

Alexis-Blaise Kenne asked:


Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is the result of two forces: from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow. Blood pressure is measured by putting a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of blood. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Blood pressure is traditionally measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure is generally felt to be abnormally high at a level of 140/90, and some sort of definitive therapy and follow-up should be started at this level. High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms.

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood does not flow regularly like water from a tap:-When the heart contracts (systole), the blood is propelled into the main arteries that act as a pressurised reservoir.

Pressure in a hose can be regulated either by controlling the rate at which fluid passes through it or by widening it. Pressure inside your arteries can cause the muscles that line the walls of the arteries to thicken. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still.

Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, claiming thousands of lives each year. Heart failure is when your heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should, and this can cause you to become short of breath and can cause your ankles to swell. Heart attack High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks.

Various disorders and drugs can cause the compensatory mechanisms to malfunction, and high blood pressure may result. Causes In most instances of high blood pressure, no known cause can be identified. Doctors do not know what causes high blood pressure in 90 to 95 percent of people who have it. For some people, just being in a medical setting causes their blood pressure to rise.

Symptoms When blood pressure is too low, the first organ to malfunction is usually the brain. Symptoms that may occur include: Confusion Chest pain Ear noise or buzzing Irregular heartbeat Nosebleed Tiredness Vision changes. What is treatment, medication, medicines, remedy, drugs, cure of lowering high Blood pressure or Hypertension? . Although high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of people with the condition do not display any noticeable symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and lowering blood pressure to normal limits. Treatment for high blood pressure depends on the severity of the disease and whether you have other health problems, such as heart failure or diabetes, or you are pregnant. Treatment of primary high blood pressure, especially moderate or severe high blood pressure, decreases the risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, abnormal heartbeats, stroke, and kidney disease, and reduces the risk of death from these conditions. Treatment for high blood pressure must be highly individualized and based on your risk factors, such as diabetes, smoking, and heart disease. Treatment when blood pressure increases slightly and the woman is not near the end of her pregnancy, bed rest may help reduce the pressure. Treatment begins with changes you can make in your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease .

High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause: The heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. If your blood pressure is in the prehypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If your blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you have prehypertension. The good news is that if your blood pressure is high, it can be lowered by making changes to your lifestyle, for example changing your diet, exercising and losing weight, and when needed, with tablets. The medical community?s knowledge of high blood pressure is great, but far from perfect. High blood pressure is more common: In patients whose families have high blood pressure In those over 35 years old In males In Afro-Americans In women on oral contraceptives. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to have it taken by a person who knows how (those automatic machines you sit at in the supermarket are not necessarily kept accurate condition.

__Alexis Kenne

http://www.extend-yourlife.com/hypertension

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Tina