High Blood Pressure - 65,000,000 Americans Have It!

INTRODUCTION: High blood pressure or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure.

Hypertension rarely has any symptoms, but it can create serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.

It forces the heart to work much harder and can damage the arteries, causing them to narrow faster. It can also harm many parts of the body and is a major health problem in the US affecting 1/3 of Americans or 65 million persons, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

HYPERTENSION: Most commonly referred to as “high blood pressure”, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated and is considered to be present when a person’s systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg or greater, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90 mmHg or greater.

It can be categorized as either essential (primary) or secondary and is one of the most frequent occuring complex disorders, with genetic implication averaging 30 percent. Hypertension can be a short term or lifelong disease, depending on the cause and is dangerous because it forces the heart to work extra hard.

Pre-hypertension is blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the higher number, or between 80 and 89 for the lower number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the pre-hypertension category. If your blood pressure is in the pre-hypertension category, it is more likely that you will eventually have hypertension unless you take action to prevent it. If you have this kind of high blood pressure, you may not have to take medication.

HEART: Some people may not find out they have high blood pressure until they have problems with their heart, brain, or kidneys. If it is not found and treated, it can cause the heart to grow larger, which can lead to heart failure. With high blood pressure, the heart works much harder, your arteries take a beating, and your odds of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are increased.

If you don’t have elevated blood pressure by age 55, you have a 90 percent risk of developing it at sometime during your lifetime, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Left uncared for, it will cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point at which serious damage can take place. About half of persons having first-time heart attacks and 2/3 of people having first-time strokes suffer from elevated blood pressure.

It has been shown that laughing heartily 100 times each day gives the same heart benefits as working out for 20 minutes?

TREATMENT: Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and lowering blood pressure to normal limits. When you first begin treatment, your doctor may need you to come to the office regularly. Your doctor will go over the information with you and decide if your treatment program is succeeding or if you need to make changes to it.

Among the 61 percent who are under going treatment, only 35% have their blood pressure adequately controlled. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, see your doctor.

CONCLUSION: High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it often has no symptoms and is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease and stroke. High blood pressure is not evenly spread throughout the population and happens disproportionately more often in minority communities.

High blood pressure rates are also growing among American children, paralleling an epidemic of obesity. Hypertension in grownups will usually be measured on at least two different trips to the doctor before a diagnosis is made. It can be treated by both modifying lifestyles, usually as the first step, and, if necessary, with medications. Diuretics work in the kidney and flush out excess water and sodium from the body.

Nearly 1/3 American adults have high blood pressure. Once It develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. Fortunately, it can be easily diagnosed, and once you are aware you have it, you can work with your doctor to control it.

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