Hypertension Is A Very Dangerous Problem For Which There Is Usually A Simple Solution
Over the past few years changes in lifestyle and diet in most western countries have produced an increase in the number of individuals with high blood pressure.
High blood pressure (otherwise referred to as hypertension, or more properly arterial hypertension) is a serious condition which rarely carries any symptoms and which, if left undetected and untreated, can result in stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arterial aneurysm or renal failure - any one of which is a life-threatening condition.
So exactly what is high blood pressure and just what causes it?
The arteries of your body are continuously filled with blood which produces a normal 'background' pressure against the artery walls. When the heart pumps freshly oxygenated blood around your body it forces this blood into the arteries which briefly raises the pressure exerted on the artery walls with each heartbeat. These two pressures are called the systolic pressure (the higher pressure as the heart is pumping) and the diastolic pressure (the reduced normal or 'background' pressure).
Normal blood pressure differs from one individual to the next but, on average, systolic pressure should be approximately 120 mm Hg and diastolic pressure should be approximately 80 mm Hg. This is normally written as a blood pressure of 120/80.
If your blood pressure starts to rise and then remains at a level above 120/80 then you are said to be 'prehypertensive' and, despite the fact that this is not in itself serious, it is a sign that you may be at risk of developing hypertension and the problems associated with it. If your blood pressure rises to, and remains at, a level of 140/90 or higher you are said to be suffering from hypertension and steps should be taken to reduce your blood pressure.
But what makes you blood pressure rise and stay elevated?
Well, there are several factors involved here and to start there is a group over which you have little, or no, control. This group includes a low weight at birth, several genetic factors, certain types of diabetes (particularly type 2 diabetes) and your age (with increasing age our arteries display a tendency to become fibrous and lose their elasticity, resulting in a smaller cross-sectional area for the blood to flow through).
The second group of factors is far more within your control and includes a sedentary lifestyle, large quantities of salt and saturated fats in your diet, excess weight, smoking, alcohol abuse, stress and working in certain occupations such as motorway maintenance or flying.
The vast majority of these factors are treatable and, in many cases, a quite simple change in your diet and the addition of some exercise into your daily routine is all that is needed to reverse the problem. The difficulty however is that, with few, or no, symptoms, the majority of individuals are not aware that they are suffering from high blood pressure to start with.
So how can you go about curing the problem?
Well, fortunately, the answer to this question is very simple. All you have to do is to drop by your doctor's office regularly (about twice a year should do the trick) and ask him/her to check your blood pressure for you. The process is painless, easy and quick and will provide you with peace of mind and possibly save your doctor a lot of work, time and expense down the road when you are forced to drop by his office once high blood pressure sets in.
If you are not too keen on calling in to see your doctor then a very good alternative now is to simply check your own blood pressure. A number of simple to operate and relatively inexpensive blood pressure monitors are available now, allowing you to keep an eye on your own health, as well as that of your complete family, in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
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