By Ricardo Henri


Introduction

High blood pressure aka hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not refer to excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily elevate blood pressure. Hypertension usually has no signs or symptoms, but it may cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It makes the heart to work much harder and can harm the arteries, causing them to narrow much faster. It can also damage many parts of the body and is a major health concern in the US affecting one out of every three Americans, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Hypertension

Hypertension, most commonly referred to as "high blood pressure", HTN or HPN, is a medical problem in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated and is considered to be present when a patient's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg or more, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is routinely 90 mmHg or more. It can be designated as either primary or secondary and is one of the most common complex disorders, with genetic implications averaging 30 percent.

Hypertension can be a temporary or life time ailment, depending on the cause and is dangerous because it causes the heart to work much harder. Pre-hypertension is high blood tension between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the pre-hypertension range. If your blood tension is in the pre-hypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with hypertension unless you take preventative action. Should you have this kind of hypertension, you may not need to take medication.

Heart

Some person's may not know they have HBP until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. When it is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause the heart to increase in size, which may cause heart failure. With HBP, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are larger. If you don't have hypertension by age fifty five, you have a 90 percent chance of developing it at some time in your life, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Unattended, it will cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point at which serious damage can happen. About 1/2 of people having first-time heart attacks and 2/3 of people having first-time strokes suffer from HBP.

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Treatment

Treatment is focused on lowering water retention and lowering HBP to normal bounderies. When you first start treatment, your physician may want you to come to the office on a regular basis. Your physician will review the information with you and determine if your treatment program is working or if you need to make changes to it. Among the sixty one percent who are under treatment, only thirty five percent have their blood tension adequately controlled. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, talk to your physician.

Conclusion

Hypertension is called the silent killer because it routinely has no symptoms and is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease and stroke. HBP is not evenly distributed throughout the population and occurs disproportionately more frequently in minority communities. High blood pressure rates are also rising among American children, alongside an epidemic of obesity. Hypertension in adults will usually be measured on at least two different physician visits before a diagnosis is made. It can be treated with both lifestyle changes, usually as the first step, and, if needed, with medications. Diuretics work in the kidney and flush out extra water and sodium from the body. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. Once It develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. Fortunately, it can be easily detected, and once you know you have it, you can work with your physician to control it.




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