Blood pressure can be defined as the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries as it circulates through the body. You probably have high blood pressure (hypertension) if your blood pressure readings are consistently 140 over 90, or higher, over a number of weeks. You may also have high blood pressure if just one of the numbers is higher than it should be over a number of weeks.
If you have high blood pressure, this higher pressure puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. Over time, this extra strain increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. A complication of High Blood Pressure or long period high blood pressure can also cause heart and kidney disease and is closely linked to some forms of dementia.
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. It is known as the "silent killer" since it has no initial symptoms but can lead to long-term disease and complications.
How is blood pressure measured?
Blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure cuff and recorded as two numbers, for example, 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Blood pressure measurements are usually taken at the upper arm of the brachial artery.
The top, the larger number is called the systolic pressure. This measures the pressure generated when the heart contracts (pumps). It reflects the pressure of the blood against arterial walls.
The bottom, the smaller number is called the diastolic pressure. This reflects the pressure in the arteries while the heart is filling and resting between heartbeats.
Heart Association has recommended guidelines to define normal and high blood pressure.
Normal blood pressure less than 120/80
Pre-hypertension 120-139/ 80-89
High blood pressure (stage 1) 140-159/90-99
High blood pressure (stage 2) higher than 160/100
As many as 60 million Americans have high blood pressure.
According to new guidelines of heart association, high blood pressure stage 1 drop from 140 to 130 and the bottom one from 90 to 80.(R)(R)
According to new guidelines of heart association, high blood pressure stage 1 drop from 140 to 130 and the bottom one from 90 to 80.(R)(R)
What causes high blood pressure?
For most people with hypertension, the cause of high blood pressure is not known and is referred to as primary or essential hypertension. While the specific cause is unknown, there are risk factors that can contribute to developing high blood pressure.
Medications: Certain drugs, such as amphetamines (stimulants), diet pills, and some medications used for cold and allergy symptoms such as pseudoephedrine, tend to raise blood pressure.
Birth control pills (oral contraceptive): Some women who take birth control pills develop high blood pressure.
Factors affecting High Blood Pressure which you cannot control like
- Age: The older a person is, the greater the likelihood that he or she will develop high blood pressure, especially elevated systolic readings. This is largely due to arteriosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries."
- Race: African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasians. They develop high blood pressure at a younger age and develop more severe complications sooner in life.
- Socioeconomic status: High blood pressure is found more commonly among the less educated and lower socioeconomic groups. Residents of the southeastern United States, both Caucasian and African American, are more likely to have a high blood pressure than residents of other regions.
- Family history (heredity): The tendency to have high blood pressure appears to run in families.
- Gender: Generally men have a greater likelihood of developing high blood pressure than women. This likelihood varies according to age and among various ethnic groups.
Your lifestyle can affect your risk of developing it. You are at a higher risk if:
- You eat too much salt (Sodium)
- You don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables.
- You are not active enough.
- You are overweight.
- You drink too much alcohol.
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of High Blood Pressure?
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. So the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have yours measured.
Sometimes people with elevated blood pressure may develop:
- Headache,
- Dizziness,
- Blurred vision,
- Nausea and vomiting, and
- Chest pain and shortness of breath.
Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure?
The management and control of high blood pressure involve two major options, lifestyle modification, and medication.
Limit Sodium intake
In about half of people with high blood pressure, limiting sodium intake by eliminating table salt, cooking salt, and salty and processed foods can reduce blood pressure by 5 mm Hg as American Heart Association released a list of sodium intake recommended ideal limit of sodium for the most adults should not be more than 1500 mg. (R)
Losing weight and participating in regular physical activity can reduce blood pressure further.
Losing weight and participating in regular physical activity can reduce blood pressure further.
Reduce Smoking
Who Smoke cigarette regularly at greater risk of blood pressure. When you smoke a cigarette, your blood pressure elevates for some time and if you are a regular smoker you blood pressure will be elevated permanently even increase the risk of heart disease.
Lifestyle Modifications to Manage High Blood Pressure
- Aim for a healthy weight range for your height and body type. Your health care practitioner can help you calculate a healthy target weight.
- Even a small amount of weight loss can make a major difference in lowering or preventing high blood pressure. You must burn more calories than you take in to lose weight.
- Crash or fad diets are not helpful and may be dangerous.
- Some weight loss medications also carry major risks and may even increase blood pressure, and great caution is advised in using these drugs. Please ask your healthcare practitioner or pharmacist for help in deciding if a weight loss medication is appropriate for your situation.
Physical activity reduces total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) and raises the good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL).
Both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.
Physical activity includes many daily activities such as cleaning the house, raking the lawn, and walking. Other possible sources of activity can include using the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator, walking for errands instead of driving a car, and participating in a sport or social activity such dancing for maintaining high blood pressure.
