Thursday, February 10, 2011
What high blood pressure (hypertension) can do
What high blood pressure (hypertension) can do
High blood pressure (hypertension) puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. This can cause them to become weaker or damaged.
The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of serious health problems in the future. High blood pressure can affect your body in a number of ways:
- Your heart: high blood pressure can cause you to have a heart attack. It can also cause heart failure.
- Your brain: high blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes. It has also been closely linked to some forms of dementia.
- Your kidneys: high blood pressure can cause kidney disease.
- Your limbs: high blood pressure can cause peripheral arterial disease, which can affect your legs.
If you have other health conditions, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, this increases your risk of health problems even more. It is then even more important to lower your high blood pressure.
What is low blood pressure?
What is low blood pressure?
Many people worry about low blood pressure (hypotension), but probably don't need to.
Some people have a blood pressure level that is lower than normal. In general this may be good news - because the lower your blood pressure is, the lower your risk of stroke or heart disease. However, in a few cases, having low blood pressure can cause problems, so you might need to speak to your doctor or nurse.
Some people have a blood pressure level that is lower than normal. In general this may be good news - because the lower your blood pressure is, the lower your risk of stroke or heart disease. However, in a few cases, having low blood pressure can cause problems, so you might need to speak to your doctor or nurse.
What is a low blood pressure reading?
A low blood pressure reading is having a level that is 90/60mmHg, or lower.Only one of the numbers has to be lower than it should be to count as low blood pressure. In other words:
- if the top number is 90 or less (regardless of the botton number) this may be low blood pressure
- if the bottom number is 60 or less (regardless of the top number) this may be low blood pressure.
What causes low blood pressure?
Some people have a blood pressure level that is naturally low. That is, there is no specific cause or reason why.However, some health conditions or medicines can cause you to develop low blood pressure.
Is low blood pressure dangerous?
Usually, having low blood pressure is not a cause for concern. However, sometimes your blood pressure can drop to a point where you may feel faint or dizzy.If you find that your blood pressure is suddenly much lower than usual, there may be a reason for this. Speak to your doctor or nurse.
How is low blood pressure treated?
Most people with low blood pressure will not need treatment.If your doctor or nurse feels that you would benefit from treatment, they will often try to find a cause for your low blood pressure. If they can find the cause, they should be able to decide on the most appropriate treatment for you.
What is normal blood pressure?
What is normal blood pressure?
Ideally, we should all have a blood pressure below 120 over 80 (120/80). This is the ideal blood pressure for people wishing to have good health. At this level, we have a much lower risk of heart disease or stroke.
If your blood pressure is optimal, this is great news. By following our healthy living advice, you will be able to keep it this way.
If your blood pressure is above 120/80mmHg, you will need to lower it.
If your blood pressure is optimal, this is great news. By following our healthy living advice, you will be able to keep it this way.
If your blood pressure is above 120/80mmHg, you will need to lower it.
Most adults in the UK have blood pressure readings in the range from 120 over 80 (120/80) to 140 over 90 (140/90). If your blood pressure is within this range, you should be taking steps to bring it down or to stop it rising any further. Our five top tips will show you how.
The reason why people with blood pressure readings in this range should lower it, even though this is not classified as 'high' blood pressure, is that the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of health problems. For example, someone with a blood pressure level of 135 over 85 (135/85) is twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as someone with a reading of 115 over 75 (115/75).
The reason why people with blood pressure readings in this range should lower it, even though this is not classified as 'high' blood pressure, is that the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of health problems. For example, someone with a blood pressure level of 135 over 85 (135/85) is twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as someone with a reading of 115 over 75 (115/75).
What is high blood pressure?
What is high blood pressure?
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.
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.
High blood pressure can also cause heart and kidney disease, and is closely linked to some forms of dementia.
You can check your blood pressure on our Blood Pressure Chart.
What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms, so the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have yours measured. However, a single high reading does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure. Many things can affect your blood pressure through the day, so your doctor will take a number of blood pressure readings to see that it stays high over time.Occasionally people with very high blood pressure say they experience headaches, but it is best to visit your GP if you are concerned about symptoms.
What causes high blood pressure?
For most people, there may be no single cause for their high blood pressure. We do not know exactly what causes high blood pressure. We do know that your lifestyle can affect your risk of developing it. You are at a higher risk if:
- you eat too much salt;
- you don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables;
- you are not active enough;
- you are overweight; or
- you drink too much alcohol.
Additional causes of high blood pressure
There are some factors that increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, which you cannot control. These include:- Age: as you get older, the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle can build up and your blood pressure can increase.
- Ethnic origin: people from African-Caribbean and South Asian communities are at greater risk than other people of high blood pressure.
- Family history: you are at greater risk if other members of your family have, or have had, high blood pressure.
Take Simple Steps to Avoid High Blood Pressure
Essential hypertension (High Blood Pressure) affects approximately 72 million Americans. The cause can be due to one or more contributing factors and there are a number of safe and effective ways to prevent and treat this condition.
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics released facts and figures on American health care. The latest year included in the reports is 2006. That report showed that 71.6 percent of walk-in medical visits resulted in a prescription for drugs. A great number of those drugs would be for the treatment of High Blood Pressure since that was the most common diagnosis during a walk-in health care visit.
High blood pressure is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis, and it is responsible for the majority of deaths in the United States.
What Causes Hypertension (HBP)?
A list of some of the probable causes include: stress, excessive alcohol use, smoking, being overweight, not exercising, having high cholesterol, being insulin-resistant, a diet with too much sodium (salt), and too low of levels in potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Stress is a bad actor here since some favorite coping skills for stress are drinking alcohol, smoking, and/or overeating. Stress very often stems from a hectic lifestyle or high-stress job where people feel they have no time for exercise. These common coping choices are all on the probable cause list above making stress a strong contender for the major cause of HBP.
Solutions:
The best alternative to prescription drugs is to make some healthy lifestyle changes. If these changes are made in advance, prescription drugs may be avoided, and making these changes if you already have HBP may allow you to decrease or get off of HBP drugs. We are simply "not" deficient of drugs.
The human body is meant to be in motion. Exercise goes a long way to manage stress. Simply taking a 15 minute walk a day can make a big difference.
The body needs nutrients. Nutrients come from "real" food. One of the easiest and most effective ways to lower your blood pressure is to eat healthy. Consume a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, including vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Decrease sodium (salt) levels. Trade bad fats like sugar for good fats like nuts and seeds. Eat less red meat and more fish and poultry. A high fiber diet has been shown to be effective in preventing and treating many forms of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. Next trip to the grocery store, check out the food that "isn't" in a box, can or bottle.
Supplements can also help. Magnesium levels are shown to be consistently low in people suffering from hypertension. Potassium and calcium levels are often low as well. Diet alone is generally not enough to reach the levels needed.
Some studies suggest relaxation methods that include mild physical activity with controlled breathing, such as yoga, are beneficial for people with hypertension.
In summary: Address the stress, eat right, exercise and relax. Making these lifestyle changes is a natural and effective way to prevent or treat HBP.
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics released facts and figures on American health care. The latest year included in the reports is 2006. That report showed that 71.6 percent of walk-in medical visits resulted in a prescription for drugs. A great number of those drugs would be for the treatment of High Blood Pressure since that was the most common diagnosis during a walk-in health care visit.
High blood pressure is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis, and it is responsible for the majority of deaths in the United States.
What Causes Hypertension (HBP)?
A list of some of the probable causes include: stress, excessive alcohol use, smoking, being overweight, not exercising, having high cholesterol, being insulin-resistant, a diet with too much sodium (salt), and too low of levels in potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Stress is a bad actor here since some favorite coping skills for stress are drinking alcohol, smoking, and/or overeating. Stress very often stems from a hectic lifestyle or high-stress job where people feel they have no time for exercise. These common coping choices are all on the probable cause list above making stress a strong contender for the major cause of HBP.
Solutions:
The best alternative to prescription drugs is to make some healthy lifestyle changes. If these changes are made in advance, prescription drugs may be avoided, and making these changes if you already have HBP may allow you to decrease or get off of HBP drugs. We are simply "not" deficient of drugs.
The human body is meant to be in motion. Exercise goes a long way to manage stress. Simply taking a 15 minute walk a day can make a big difference.
The body needs nutrients. Nutrients come from "real" food. One of the easiest and most effective ways to lower your blood pressure is to eat healthy. Consume a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, including vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Decrease sodium (salt) levels. Trade bad fats like sugar for good fats like nuts and seeds. Eat less red meat and more fish and poultry. A high fiber diet has been shown to be effective in preventing and treating many forms of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. Next trip to the grocery store, check out the food that "isn't" in a box, can or bottle.
Supplements can also help. Magnesium levels are shown to be consistently low in people suffering from hypertension. Potassium and calcium levels are often low as well. Diet alone is generally not enough to reach the levels needed.
Some studies suggest relaxation methods that include mild physical activity with controlled breathing, such as yoga, are beneficial for people with hypertension.
In summary: Address the stress, eat right, exercise and relax. Making these lifestyle changes is a natural and effective way to prevent or treat HBP.
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