What Is High Blood Pressure
|
|
Hypertension, or high blood pressure is a cardiac medical condition affecting one out of every three adults in the United States. Blood pressure refers to the amount of pressure the blood places on the walls of the arteries as the blood flows through the body. The amount of pressure during a heartbeat is the systolic pressure, when having your blood pressure measured this is the first or top number. The amount of pressure between heartbeats is the diastolic pressure, the second or bottom number, and usually the lower number of the two.
Normal blood pressure for adults is 120/80 or below. Pressure between 121/81 and 139/89 is referred to as pre-hypertension and may indicate a tendency to develop hypertension. Pre-hypertension
Symptoms of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Mild to moderate hypertension, high blood pressure, generally is asymptomatic meaning that there are no symptoms. A person that develops hypertension may feel less energetic over time or complain that they are not thinking as clearly as they should. If these minor symptoms do present they are usually attributed to stress, over-work, and lack of adequate rest. Enough emphasis cannot be placed on the importance of regular health check-ups for adults at least once a year. A person may have heart or kidney damage caused by high blood pressure and be completely unaware of the issue.
Pregnant women should have their blood pressure monitored closely as hypertension during pregnancy may be a symptom of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. Eclampsia is a
Ways To Lower Blood Pressure
Treatment for high blood pressure is often a three pronged approach including lifestyle changes, home monitoring, and medication. Your doctor is committed to lowering your blood pressure and improving your health. Make this same commitment to yourself.
Changing your lifestyle is much easier said than done. Your doctor can help you decide on an exercise regimen that is right for you. Setting goals are important, this will give you a sense of accomplishment and let you know that you are on track. As with any new exercise program start slow, especially if you have been mostly sedentary up until this point. Let your body get used to the idea of regular exercise, stretching only exercises for the first few days
Home Remedies For High Blood Pressure
Proper diet can help lower your blood pressure as well as promote all around good health. Americans suffer many health problems that could be remedied simply by changing what they eat and how they eat. You are what you eat or a healthy diet makes you healthy.
There is no one super food that will magically lower your blood pressure but rather a balanced diet of whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, extra lean meats, poultry, and fish, and nuts, seeds and dry beans. However there are some foods that have been promoted to specifically lower blood pressure.
Brightly colored berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries contain anthocyanins thought to lower blood pressure by
When to see a Doctor about your High Blood Pressure
All adults should have a medical check up annually that includes blood pressure measurement, an EKG, blood work, and urinalysis. Check ups help find health problems while they are small and easy to treat. Most people with hypertension had it discovered during a routine check up or while visiting the doctor for an unrelated issue.
Be aware of the risk factors for hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol use, obesity, being under constant stress, and heredity. If you are not sure if family members have or may have had high blood pressure, ask them. Controlled hypertension does not effect daily living, members of your family may have hypertension but have never brought it up in conversation because it is controlled. Recent weight
Subscribe For Latest News
Why not subscribe and get the latest news
from All About Blood Pressure emailed directly to you.
Facebook Like Box
Recent Comments