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High Blood Pressure
(Part I)
Blood pressure is the
arterial force with each heartbeat (systolic pressure), and at rest (diastolic
pressure). It's measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and stated in terms
of systolic over diastolic. It is one of the standard tests done during medical
exams and it determines if an individual has hypertension, meaning blood
pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure, or greater than
or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. This is the clinical definition of
high blood pressure, but the meaning in terms of quality of life is enormous
since it greatly increases the risk of coronary heart disease, kidney damage,
diabetes, blindness and stroke. The major organs may remain unaffected by this
pressure for some time and the individual remains symptom less. However, the
increased workload on the heart and circulatory system and altered blood supply
to organs is taking a toll. The added force is limiting the efficiency of the
circulatory system, and contributing to the increased risk of stroke, congestive
heart failure, kidney failure and heart attack. The existence of other risk
factors for heart disease and stroke, such as smoking, obesity, increased
cholesterol or diabetes, together with high blood pressure increases the risk
dramatically for developing these conditions.
High blood pressure affects
people over 35 but is not limited to this age group; hypertension is seen all
ages from childhood upward. Hypertension is diagnosed in nearly 65 million
Americans, half of which are female. The risk of developing hypertension
increases in a woman’s life after menopause, when she is more likely to develop
it that a man of the same age. The prevalence is high in African Americans, and
it may also have a genetic component. Other high risk factors include obesity,
diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and heavy drinking. Taking birth control
pills increases a women’s risk of developing high blood pressure, as does
pregnancy, which is why health care professionals monitor blood pressure
carefully during this time. Hypertension can develop during the last trimester
that usually, but not always, returns to normal after childbirth. Sometimes
hypertension must be treated with medication to ensure a healthful baby and
mother. Stress does seem to be a factor in high blood pressure, but the
relationship has not yet been defined. It is normal for blood pressure to rise
with stress or excitement but in most individuals it quickly returns to normal
measurements.
If you do not have one of
these risk factors, are you safe from developing high blood pressure.
Unfortunately not. The cause is unknown in up to 95% of cases diagnosed. Even
more alarming is that an individual may unknowingly suffer from the condition
for years, allowing significant damage to have been already been done. The
nature of the disease, which is often symptom less in the mild stage, is to
damage the arteries and organs slowly over time by exerting extra force while
pumping blood through the body. This is why it is nicknamed the “silent
killer”. The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the tissues first through large
arteries which diverge into the smaller blood vessels called arterioles and lead
into even smaller vessels, the capillaries, which actually nourish the body’s
organs and tissues. The blood is then recycled to the heart via veins. Nerve
impulses, often generated by the sympathetic nervous system, cause dilation, or
enlargement, and contraction, or narrowing, of the arteries. In a narrowed
artery, the blood flow is impeded and slowed down and the force of the blood
upon the walls of the blood vessel is increased. This is the beginning of high
blood pressure which causes damage to the blood vessels since the force upon
them is greater than normal and is exerted with each heartbeat. The heart
becomes strained and the blood flow to the heart, brain, kidneys and other
organs is reduced.
There is no cure for high
blood pressure but it can be controlled with the same life style changes that
are recommended fort the prevention of several other disease. Therefore, taking
steps to control hypertension reduces an individual’s risk of developing several
conditions and is be a major step in maintaining good health.
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