High blood pressure or hypertension is referred to a condition in which the blood flowing in arteries exerts an increased force on walls that may lead to heart problems. Arteries carry blood pumped by heart to all tissues and organs of the body. Blood pressure count is measured by comparing the amount of blood flow to the resistance of blood flow in arteries. High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition when heart pump blood more than normal.
Blood pressure is measured by observing systolic and diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the pressure in arteries when heart contracts and pumps blood while the diastolic pressure is the pressure in arteries when the heart relaxes after contraction. Normal blood pressure count is lower than 120/80. The above one is the systolic pressure while the lower one is diastolic pressure. Pre-hypertension blood pressure count is more than 120/80 and less than 140/90. Blood pressure more than 140/90 is considered as high blood pressure or hypertension.
Symptoms:
In most of the cases, there are no symptoms at all even if the blood pressure is too high but few people present symptoms in early stages that includes headaches, dizziness, bleeding nose, vision disorders, nausea, vomiting, etc. One can identify high blood pressure only with regular check-ups. Ask your doctor to measure your blood pressure after every six months.
Causes:
There are basically two forms of hypertension- essential hypertension(primary hypertension) and secondary hypertension.
Essential hypertension develops gradually over years and there is no direct cause identified, until now. Some factors that tend to develop essential hypertension are stress, smoking, poor lifestyle, obesity, drinking alcohol, potassium deficiency, salt sensitivity, etc. The other factors that contribute to essential hypertension are family history of hypertension and aging.
Secondary hypertension always results suddenly and increases the blood pressure to a rate much higher than essential hypertension. It results due to one of the following reasons:
- Over production of cortisol hormone by adrenal glands
- Tumor in adrenal gland
- Changes in hormones
- Kidney diseases
- Obesity
- Intake of certain medicines such as some birth control pills, pain relievers, prescription drugs, etc.
- Intake of certain illegal drugs.
Some risk factors that may develop high blood pressure are age, family history, obesity, physically inactive, chewing tobacco, increased concentration of sodium in the diet, drinking alcohol, stress, etc.
Prevention:
To keep your blood pressure in control follow the understated instructions:
- Take your medicines on time to avoid any complications.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
- Don't take stress.
- Visit your doctor regularly.
To live a healthy life get your blood pressure check-up done at regular intervals. Take prescribed medicines as this disease can't be overlooked. It has to be managed for the rest of your life.
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