Hypertension Can Be An Extremely Dangerous Problem For Which There Is Normally A Simple Solution
In the last few years changes in lifestyle and diet in most western societies have led to a rise in the number of individuals with high blood pressure.
High blood pressure (otherwise known as hypertension, or more properly arterial hypertension) can be a dangerous condition which rarely carries any symptoms and that, if not detected and treated, can cause stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arterial aneurysm or renal failure - any one of which is a serious life-threatening condition.
So just what is high blood pressure and exactly what causes it?
The arteries of the body are constantly filled with blood that provides a normal 'background' pressure on the artery walls. As your heart pumps freshly oxygenated blood around your body it forces this blood into the arteries which briefly raises the pressure on the walls of the arteries during each heartbeat. These two pressures are referred to as the systolic pressure (the higher pressure as the heart is pumping) and the diastolic pressure (the lower 'background' pressure).
Normal levels of blood pressure vary from one person to the next but, in general, systolic pressure ought to be in the region of 120 mm Hg and diastolic pressure should be in the region of 80 mm Hg. This is ordinarily shown as a pressure of 120/80.
When your blood pressure begins to rise and stays at a level above 120/80 then you are described as being 'prehypertensive' and, although this is not in itself serious, it is an indication that you could be at risk of developing hypertension and all of the problems which are linked with it. If your blood pressure reaches, and remains at, a level of 140/90 or above then you are said to be suffering from hypertension and steps need to be taken to reduce your blood pressure.
But just what makes you blood pressure rise and than remain at a high level?
Well, there are several factors involved here and to start there is a group over which you have little, if any, control. This group of factors includes low weight at birth, various genetic factors, certain forms of diabetes (particularly type 2 diabetes) and your age (as we grow older the arteries have a tendency to become fibrous and lose their elasticity, producing a smaller cross-sectional area through which the blood can flow).
The next group of factors is much more within your control and includes leading a sedentary lifestyle, high levels of salt and saturated fats in your diet, being overweight, smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, stress and employment in specific occupations such as flying or motorway maintenance.
The majority of these factors are treatable and, in many cases, a quite simple adjustment to your diet and the addition of a little exercise into your daily routine is all that is necessary to reverse the problem. The difficulty however is that, with few, if any, symptoms, the majority of individuals do not know that they are suffering from high blood pressure to start with.
So how can you cure the problem?
Thankfully the answer to this particular question is quite simple. All you need to do is to drop by your doctor's office on a regular basis (about twice a year should be sufficient) and ask him/her to check your blood pressure for you. The whole process is pain free, simple and fast and will give you peace of mind and could save your doctor a lot of work, time and expense later on when you are forced to drop by his office once high blood pressure sets in.
If you are not all that keen on visiting your doctor then one excellent alternative now is to simply monitor your own blood pressure at home. A wide range of easy to operate and reasonably inexpensive blood pressure monitors are available now, allowing you to check your health, as well as that of your entire family, in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
In the last few years changes in lifestyle and diet in most western societies have led to a rise in the number of individuals with high blood pressure.
High blood pressure (otherwise known as hypertension, or more properly arterial hypertension) can be a dangerous condition which rarely carries any symptoms and that, if not detected and treated, can cause stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arterial aneurysm or renal failure - any one of which is a serious life-threatening condition.
So just what is high blood pressure and exactly what causes it?
The arteries of the body are constantly filled with blood that provides a normal 'background' pressure on the artery walls. As your heart pumps freshly oxygenated blood around your body it forces this blood into the arteries which briefly raises the pressure on the walls of the arteries during each heartbeat. These two pressures are referred to as the systolic pressure (the higher pressure as the heart is pumping) and the diastolic pressure (the lower 'background' pressure).
Normal levels of blood pressure vary from one person to the next but, in general, systolic pressure ought to be in the region of 120 mm Hg and diastolic pressure should be in the region of 80 mm Hg. This is ordinarily shown as a pressure of 120/80.
When your blood pressure begins to rise and stays at a level above 120/80 then you are described as being 'prehypertensive' and, although this is not in itself serious, it is an indication that you could be at risk of developing hypertension and all of the problems which are linked with it. If your blood pressure reaches, and remains at, a level of 140/90 or above then you are said to be suffering from hypertension and steps need to be taken to reduce your blood pressure.
But just what makes you blood pressure rise and than remain at a high level?
Well, there are several factors involved here and to start there is a group over which you have little, if any, control. This group of factors includes low weight at birth, various genetic factors, certain forms of diabetes (particularly type 2 diabetes) and your age (as we grow older the arteries have a tendency to become fibrous and lose their elasticity, producing a smaller cross-sectional area through which the blood can flow).
The next group of factors is much more within your control and includes leading a sedentary lifestyle, high levels of salt and saturated fats in your diet, being overweight, smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, stress and employment in specific occupations such as flying or motorway maintenance.
The majority of these factors are treatable and, in many cases, a quite simple adjustment to your diet and the addition of a little exercise into your daily routine is all that is necessary to reverse the problem. The difficulty however is that, with few, if any, symptoms, the majority of individuals do not know that they are suffering from high blood pressure to start with.
So how can you cure the problem?
Thankfully the answer to this particular question is quite simple. All you need to do is to drop by your doctor's office on a regular basis (about twice a year should be sufficient) and ask him/her to check your blood pressure for you. The whole process is pain free, simple and fast and will give you peace of mind and could save your doctor a lot of work, time and expense later on when you are forced to drop by his office once high blood pressure sets in.
If you are not all that keen on visiting your doctor then one excellent alternative now is to simply monitor your own blood pressure at home. A wide range of easy to operate and reasonably inexpensive blood pressure monitors are available now, allowing you to check your health, as well as that of your entire family, in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
