What is High Blood Pressure? What Is Hypertension And Why Is It A Problem? Blood pressure is a measurement of the blood’s force as it is forced against the arterial wall by the beating of the heart. Pressure that is too high can result in a stroke or damage to the organs of the body, including the heart and kidneys. For this reason, it is important to routinely check blood pressure to prevent major health issues. Your blood pressure will vary over the course of a day – exercise, caffeine, strong emotion can all have an effect. But when your blood pressure stays elevated – that is a problem. The medical term is Hypertension. When your blood pressure is measured two readings are taken one when your heart is beating (this is the high number know as the systolic) and one when your heart is between beats (this is the low number known as diastolic) Here are the numbers:
These numbers were revised a few years ago to include the class of “Pre-hypertension”. That was because of increasing evidence of the dangers of high blood pressure and the likelihood of people with what was “high normal” to develop hypertension. Why Does It Matter? Hypertension is also known as the “silent Killer” because it works away damaging your body quietly often with no symptoms until there is a serious problem. Untreated hypertension multiplies your risks for a number of things: * Approximately 3 times the chance of dying form a heart attack Unfortunately there are no symptoms of high blood pressure (Until the damage has already been done or your blood pressure is so high that urgent medical treatment is required). The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to get it checked. Almost one-third of the citizens of the United States are unaware that they have dangerously high blood pressure (HBP). Because the symptoms of high blood pressure are vague, this condition, which can result in severe disabilities or even death, often goes undetected until a catastrophic health problem occurs. In 2009, the costs associated with high blood pressure to the United States health system were estimated to be close to seventy-three billion dollars. Though blood pressure tends to rise as a person ages, researchers have established some normal ranges for healthy adults. Blood pressure is measured using two different numbers, one for systolic pressure (the top number) and another for diastolic pressure (the bottom number). Systolic pressure is the recorded measurement when the heart is pumping; diastolic pressure is indicative of the pressure between beats. Doctors recommend that the systolic pressure be kept under 120 and the diastolic less than eighty. Numbers slightly higher than these denote prehypertension. Preventative measures such as increasing exercise, losing excess weight, and cutting back on salt should be taken at this stage. Numbers above 140/90 are considered to be high blood pressure or hypertension. When the blood pressure stays this high, and doctors always use the higher numbers as the main indicator, one should consult a physician who will make suggestions about lifestyle changes and prescribe medication. Stress seems to be a factor in causing high blood pressure so a healthy lifestyle includes finding ways to relax. Doctors also suggest that those who consume large quantities of caffeine might need to cut back or eliminate it altogether. High blood pressure does have a genetic connection, however, so despite the creation of new healthy habits, some people will always need medication to control it. Those with chronic conditions such as diabetes need to be especially vigilant about consistently treating high blood pressure. |
