Skip to main content

Hypertension or high blood pressure

Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. For example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg).
  • The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats. It is considered high if it is consistently over 140.
  • The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it is consistently over 90.
Either or both of these numbers may be too high.
Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Symptoms

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include:
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • Ear noise or buzzing
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Nosebleed
  • Tiredness
  • Vision changes
If you have a severe headache or any of the symptoms above, see your doctor right away. These may be signs of a complication or dangerously high blood pressure called malignant hypertension.

Causes 

Blood pressure measurements are the result of the force of the blood produced by the heart and the size and condition of the arteries.
Many factors can affect blood pressure, including:
  • How much water and salt you have in your body
  • The condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels
  • The levels of different body hormones
High blood pressure can affect all types of people. You have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you have a family history of the disease. High blood pressure is more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Smoking,obesity, and diabetes are all risk factors for hypertension.
Most of the time, no cause is identified. This is called essential hypertension.

Prevention

Adults over 18 should have their blood pressure checked routinely.

Lifestyle changes may help control your blood pressure:
  • Lose weight if you are overweight. Excess weight adds to strain on the heart. In some cases, weight loss may be the only treatment needed.
  • Exercise regularly. If possible, exercise for 30 minutes on most days.
  • Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products while reducing total and saturated fat intake (the DASH diet is one way of achieving this kind of dietary plan). (See: Heart disease and diet)
  • Avoid smoking. (See: Nicotine withdrawal)
  • If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.
  • Do not consume more than 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per day.
  • Try to manage your stress.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What signs and symptoms can occur if thyroid function is affected?

Thyroid gland: A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions (metabolism) in the body. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam's apple, wrapped around the trachea (windpipe). It has the shape of a butterfly: two wings (lobes) attached to one another by a middle part. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland, acts to stimulate hormone production by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland also makes the hormone calcitonin, which is...
61 comments
Read more

Common diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency

Sunlight is that the body's main supplier of Vitamin D that is critical for sturdy bones and teeth. Vitamin D is in virtually each tissue, therefore, it's vital for the health of the entire body. However, five hundredths of individuals over fifty have low levels of Vitamin D. Studies have shown that an absence of it will result in polygenic disorder, depression, cardiopathy, hip fractures, cramp, and disseminated multiple sclerosis. If we do not get enough Vitamin D our cells will multiply too quick and grow to become malignant tumors increasing a risk of breast, colon, prostate, ovary, gullet and humor cancers. Lack of Vitamin D may also interfere with endocrine secretion therefore it might have an effect on polygenic disorder sufferers it absolutely was found in 'Archives of General Psychiatry' that deficiencies result in depression as a result of it affect the small endocrine glands behind the thyroid and that they become hyperactive...
35 comments
Read more

Thyroid - Hypothyroid - Meaning - Causes - Symptoms - Treatment

What is Hypothyroid? Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormone is to "run the body's metabolism," it is understandable that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism. Causes About three percent of the general population is hypothyroidic. Factors such as iodine deficiency or exposure to Iodine can increase that risk. There are a number of causes for hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. In iodine-replete individuals hypothyroidism is generally caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or otherwise as a result of either an absent thyroid gland or a deficiency in stimulating hormones from the hypothalamus or pituitary.
70 comments
Read more