High Blood Pressure
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries.The blood circulation is a closed system in which the pressure varies. It rises to a peak, called the systolic pressure, at the height of the contraction of each heartbeat as the heart pumps blood out. Then it falls to a lower level, called the diastolic pressure, which it reaches just before each heartbeat. The diastolic pressure is the running pressure between beats.
In addition to the cycle variations, blood pressure varies constantly with the level of physical exertion, anxiety, stress, emotional changes, and other factors. Blood pressure should be checked under resting conditions, at different times. Blood pressure is measured in terms of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Hypertension is usually defined as a sustained systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or more, or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or more, at rest. Lifestyle and genetic factors are main causes of developing High blood pressure. It is slightly more common in men. Obese people or those who drink excessive amounts of alcohol are more likely to develop High BP. Stress also contributes to the condition.
When blood pressure is between 140/90-160/100mmHg tablets may not be necessary providing that the lifestyle changes work and there are no risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as high cholesterol, smoking or a previous stroke or heart attack.
They are less common in younger people and more common in those who are older. Diastolic pressures of 110–129 mmHg are found in about 4% of the adult population. However, it is believed that there are large numbers of people who have high blood pressure but are not aware of it.
Don't be unaware, get checked today.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms and high blood pressure often is labeled "the silent killer." People who have high blood pressure typically don't know it until their blood pressure is measured. Sometimes people with markedly elevated blood pressure may develop:- blurred vision,
- headache,
- dizziness,
- nausea and vomiting, and
- chest pain and shortness of breath.
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Kidney failure
- Eye damage with progressive vision loss
- Peripheral arterial disease causing leg pain with walking (claudication)
- Outpouchings of the aorta, called aneurysms
