Blood pressure is the force at which blood moves in the arteries. High blood pressure or hypertension occurs when your blood pressure reaches unhealthily high levels.
A lot of individuals world wide are suffering high blood pressure without even knowing they have it and as a result are not on medications. This has given HBP(High Blood Pressure), the nickname "the silent killer" as it can cause damage to the blood vessels and may lead to other health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.
This post will answer;
- What is high blood pressure?
- What causes of high blood pressure?
- What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
- Does increase in weight lead to an increase in blood pressure?
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
There are two types of high blood pressure.Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension can also be referred to as essential hypertension. This type of hypertension develops over a period of time with no identifiable cause. Primary hypertension can be found in most individuals suffering high blood pressure.
Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension often occurs quickly and may be more severe than primary hypertension. Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension.
- Thyroid problems.
- Kidney disease.
- Adrenal gland tumor.
- Illegal drugs.
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
- Congenital heart defects.
- Some medications.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Hypertension doesn't usually display symptoms early, it can take years for it to reach a level severe enough for its symptoms to become obvious.Its symptoms include;
- Headache.
- Nose bleed.
- Flushing.
- Dizziness.
- Chest pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Blood in urine.
Symptoms of hypertension usually do not usually occur until high blood pressure has reach a dangerous/life threatening stage.
How to diagnose high blood pressure
Hypertension can be diagnosed by simply taking your blood pressure reading. Usually doctors check your blood pressure during a check up. You can also check your blood pressure in some pharmacies.Diagnosis is not usually given after a single reading. Blood pressure levels can change throughout the day. If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor may prescribe some drugs after conducting tests to confirm the cause.
How is high blood pressure treated
Different factors influence the type of treatment you will be given, one of these factors include the type of hypertension you have.Treatment for primary hypertension
Changes in your lifestyle may help reduce your blood pressure. If these changes are not enough, your doctor may prescribe medication.
Treatment for secondary hypertension.
If an underlying condition is discovered treatment will often focus on that condition. Treatment plans that worked initially may need to be changed overtime if they become less useful.
High blood pressure and weight
Being overweight can make you more likely to develop high blood pressure. As your body weight increases your blood pressure can as well rise.You can reduce your risk of developing hypertension by loosing weight. Try to exercise once in a while, a 30 minutes jog around your neighborhood can be very helpful, even a little weight loss can make a difference in treating and preventing high blood pressure.
How to loose weight
To loose weight try to be more active. Regular exercise can be very helpful in loosing weight, exercise not only aids weight loss but it can also lower blood pressure.
Eat fewer calories than you normally do, a well designed diet can go a long way in aiding weight loss when combined with exercise.
Cut down on sweets, sugary drinks and snacks. Sugury snacks like doughnuts are high in calories, in fact sweetened beverages have been identified as one of the causes of obesity worldwide.
Understanding high blood pressure readings
Two numbers create blood pressure readings.The systolic pressure which is the first or top number while the diastolic pressure which is the second or bottom number.
Systolic pressure indicates the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps out blood. While diastolic pressure is the reading of the pressure in your arteries in between your heart beats.
Blood pressure readings can be divided into 4 categories.
• Healthy/normal blood pressure: this is when the blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg (millimetres of mercury).
• Elevated blood pressure: the systolic number is between 120 and 129 mmHg while the diastolic number is less than 80mmHg.
• Stage 1 hypertension: the systolic number is between 130 and 139 or the diastolic number is between 80 and 89 mmHg.
• Stage 2 hypertension: the systolic number is 140mmHg or higher, or the diastolic number 90mmHg or higher.
Hypertensive crisis is when the systolic number is over 180mmHg or the diastolic number is over 120mmHg. This is a severe case of high blood pressure and requires urgent medical attention.
The sphygmomanometer is a device used to measure blood pressure. When blood pressure is being measured, the cuffs should be fitted properly as an ill fitting cuff can deliver inaccurate results.
Home remedies for high blood pressure.
- ExerciseApart from helping you loose weight, exercise can help reduce stress and lower your blood pressure.
- Reduce your alcohol intake
Drinking excessively is associated with numerous health issues, including high blood pressure.
Excessive drinking can reduce the effectiveness of some blood pressure medications.
- Reduce your weight
If you are overweight, aim to reach a healthy weight. You can do so by reducing your calorie intake and by regular exercising.
- Lower your salt intake
Excessive salt intake has a negative effect on your blood pressure. The American heart association recommends that you keep your salt intake below 1500 milligrammes. Try to reduce the amount of times you eat out because you can better control the amount of salt you use in cooking.
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