Blood pressure
Blood pressureBlood pressure
"Blood pressure" is the force with which your heart pumps blood through the body. Occasional increases in blood pressure levels are not unusual.
Hypertension
Hypertension is high blood pressure. When heart beats (contracts and
relaxes) it pumps out a certain volume of blood. The maximum arterial pressure, measured in mm Hg, determines the systolic reading and the lowest reading of this pressure is called the diastolic pressure. It is widely accepted that a person having a reading of a systolic pressure of greater than/equal to 140 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of greater than/equal to 90 mm Hg is considered to have high blood pressure. When such a reading is sustained over a period of time, it is diagnosed as hypertension.
Causes
There are two types of hypertension. One is primary hypertension and
the other is secondary hypertension. The cause of primary hypertension is unknown. It just happens but however, there are certain risk factors or associations such as hereditary factors, race, age, environmental and life-style factors (where you live, salt and other chemicals, weight, stress, alcohol, lack of exercise). The difference between primary and secondary hypertension is that we know the causes of secondary hypertension. Usually, the causes of secondary hypertension include renal artery stenosis (or other cause of increased plasma renin), renal parenchymal disease (glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, polycystic disease, obstructive uropathy), drugs (oral contraceptives, steroids), and increased levels of catecholamines (pheochromocytoma), glucocorticoids (Cushing's disease), or mineralcorticoids.
Symptoms
Hypertension is referred to as "the silent killer" since those afflicted seem to experience few, if any, symptoms. However, hypertension may be associated with fatigue, headaches, lightheadedness, chest pains, visual and speech disturbances, shortness of breath, and nose bleeds.
Treatments
We do not know what causes "essential" hypertension but we have proof
that there are many factors associated with its development, such as
age, race, and family history. Many of these cannot be controlled or
prevented; however, weight, diet, and life-style can be controlled to a great extent, and their control may help prevent or reduce your high blood pressure. Hypertension is controllable and one...
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