Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Do You Have High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is an issue with many Americans today. Statistics show that around 85 million Americans (one-third of adults) age twenty and older have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, 40% of these people are unaware that they even have a problem. In 2005, for every death per 100,000 Americans, high blood pressure was the cause of death for 20 white males, 63 black males, 20 white females and 54 black females. This may not sound like a lot, but over the last ten years, the death rate from high blood pressure has risen a staggering 33%.
High blood pressure (often called essential hypertension) is when your blood puts high tension (pressure) on the arteries. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which is pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxing after it contracts. These numbers are displayed as systolic over diastolic (S/D). Normal blood pressure is below 120/80. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you have high blood pressure.
All the causes of high blood pressure are not known, but causes known thus far include: a high intake of salt, genetics, lack of elasticity in the arteries, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, drinking, too much caffeine, normal aging, and inflammation. Chronic high blood pressure can lead to numerous health problems. Such problems include: an enlarged heart, different heart diseases, brain or nerve damage, kidney failure, negative changes in the eye's retina such as light hemorrhaging (bleeding), narrowing of your small arteries, and swelling of the eye nerves.
You can get your blood pressure checked at any local doctor's office. A sphygmomanometer (a blood pressure cuff) is placed over the upper arm and is inflated to cut off the blood flow to the brachial artery (the main artery in the arm). As the cuff's pressure is released, the doctor can measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may tell you to modify your lifestyle (exercise, stop smoking or drinking, ect.) or prescribe you medication. Have your blood pressure checked often, so you can find out if it is high, before it becomes a big problem.
High blood pressure (often called essential hypertension) is when your blood puts high tension (pressure) on the arteries. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which is pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxing after it contracts. These numbers are displayed as systolic over diastolic (S/D). Normal blood pressure is below 120/80. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you have high blood pressure.
All the causes of high blood pressure are not known, but causes known thus far include: a high intake of salt, genetics, lack of elasticity in the arteries, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, drinking, too much caffeine, normal aging, and inflammation. Chronic high blood pressure can lead to numerous health problems. Such problems include: an enlarged heart, different heart diseases, brain or nerve damage, kidney failure, negative changes in the eye's retina such as light hemorrhaging (bleeding), narrowing of your small arteries, and swelling of the eye nerves.
You can get your blood pressure checked at any local doctor's office. A sphygmomanometer (a blood pressure cuff) is placed over the upper arm and is inflated to cut off the blood flow to the brachial artery (the main artery in the arm). As the cuff's pressure is released, the doctor can measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may tell you to modify your lifestyle (exercise, stop smoking or drinking, ect.) or prescribe you medication. Have your blood pressure checked often, so you can find out if it is high, before it becomes a big problem.
