High Blood Pressure or Arterial Hypertension
A blood pressure measurement includes two numbers. Those numbers are the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure. Because of the pumping action of the heart, the pressure and within the arteries cycles between a higher pressure and a lower pressure. The higher pressure occurs during the contraction of the heart’s left ventricle. The tiger pressure is known as the systolic blood pressure. The lower pressure occurs during the relaxation of the heart’s left ventricle. This lower pressure is referred to as the diastolic blood pressure.
Hypertension is a very common condition affecting up to 40% of adults. It’s one of the most common conditions for which medications are prescribed.
WHO GETS IT?
Most people with hypertensinon have primary hypertension. How primary hypertension develops is not entirely understood. However , it has felt to result from many inherited and environmental factors that interact in complex ways within the body. Risks to development of primary hypertension include:
Family history
Advancing age
Obesity
High sodium diet
Alcohol consumption
Physical inactivity.
The term secondary hypertension is used for many potential specific causes.
These include certain prescription or over -the-counter medication
Kidney disease
Certain endocrine disorders
Significant narrowing of the aorta or a Kidney artery.
SYMPTOMPS
Rarely, an individual with very high blood pressure may have symptoms. These symptoms might include shortness of breath, blurry vision or headache.
Blood pressure categories:
NORMAL defined as a systolic pressure less than 120 and
Diastolic pressure less than 80.
ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE systolic pressure 120 to 129 and
Diastolic pressure less than 80
HYPERTENSION IS DEFINE as systolic pressure greater than or equal to 130 or Diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 80.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm/Hg) so in general hypertension is blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
The American College of Cardiology and The American Heart Association divide blood pressure
into four general categories, ideal blood pressure is categorized as normal.
~Normal blood pressure. Blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or
lower.
~Elevated blood pressure the top number ranges from 120 to
129 mm Hg and the bottom number is below, not above, 80
mm Hg.
~ Stage 1 Hypertension. The top number range from 130 to
139 mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm
Hg.
~ Stage 2 Hypertension. The top number is 140 mm Hg or
higher or the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher.
Blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg is considered a
hypertensive emergency or crisis. Seek emergency medical
help for anyone with this blood pressure numbers.
Untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems, After 18 years check your blood pressure at least once a year.
Healthy lifestyle habits, such not smoking, exercising , eating well, most people need medication to treat or maintain blood pressure under control.
Next week I will tell you how I was able to stop taking my medication and have it under control.
“ Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Psalms 55:22