Understanding High Blood Pressure

Our hearts contract and circulate blood throughout our bodies an average of 60 to 100 times a minute. While the heart actively contracts and pumps blood into our arteries, the blood pressure increases. When the heart relaxes allowing new blood to enter its' chambers the blood pressure decreases. For this reason healthcare professionals measure two separate components of blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure reflects the pressure in our arteries, while the heart actively contracts and the diastolic pressure reflects the pressure in our arteries, while the heart relaxes. Healthcare professionals generally record blood pressure in the form of a fraction with the higher number reflecting the systolic blood pressure and the lower number reflecting the diastolic blood pressure.

Up until recently, doctors focused more on the diastolic blood pressure and tried to keep the lower number below 90. We now know systolic blood pressure is also important and aim to keep the higher number 140 or less. Therefore the blood pressure for a person with no coexisting heart disease should be 140/90 or less. If you suffer from angina or congestive heart disease, your cardiologist may recommend an even lower blood pressure.

Our blood pressures normally rise in response to exercise, excitement or stress. If your blood pressure increases only occasionally with excitement or stress, you will not suffer any long-term consequences. However, consistently elevated blood pressure increases a person's risk for strokes and coronary artery disease. A stroke occurs when the brain receives insufficient blood flow and oxygen. Strokes commonly cause permanent brain damage leaving a person with difficulty walking or talking. Coronary artery disease is narrowing of the arteries supplying blood flow to the muscle of the heart. Patients with coronary artery disease sometimes suffer heart attacks.

Persistently elevated blood pressure can also damage the kidneys. Kidney tissue does not regenerate and any damage to the kidneys is usually permanent. If kidney damage is severe enough, a patient may require dialysis (an artificial kidney machine).

Several healthcare organizations and the media have nicknamed high blood pressure, the silent killer. This nickname highlights how people rarely suffer symptoms from high blood pressure until it is too late. Once high blood pressure results in a stroke, heart attack or kidney failure the damage is complete. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure or go to a local drug store and measure your blood pressure. If your blood pressure remains above 140 over 90 on several measurements, you should seek treatment.

What is blood pressure?

The heart pumps blood throughout the body via blood vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of these vessels. The pressure is greatest when the heart contracts or beats. This is called the "systolic pressure." While the heart is filling up, the pressure falls, which is called the "diastolic pressure." These are the two numbers in a blood pressure reading: the top number is the systolic pressure and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure.

High blood pressure or hypertension can lead to problems such as heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, and enlargement of the heart. This is why it is so important that you know your blood pressure and have it checked periodically.

Who can develop high blood pressure?

Anyone can develop hypertension. Some groups are more likely to have high blood pressure than others. For example, African-Americans are more likely to be hypertensive than other groups, and their blood pressure is more difficult to control. Age also increases your likelihood of developing hypertension. So, by age 65, there is a 50-50 chance of having hypertension. Other factors which contribute to the risk of hypertension include obesity, smoking, and family history of hypertension.

How do I check my blood pressure?

Blood pressure is easily and accurately monitored by a sphygmomanometer or blood pressure cuff. The cuff is wrapped around the arm and inflated to stop the blood from being pumped into the artery. Then the cuff is slowly deflated and when the first sound of the blood hitting the vessel wall is heard, this is noted as the systolic pressure. The beat of the blood continues until there is no resistance to flow from the cuff and there is no further sound made from the blood traveling in the artery. This is then noted as the diastolic pressure.

What causes high blood pressure?

Most hypertension is considered "essential" meaning there is no cause other than perhaps heredity. There is no cure, but essential hypertension can be treated with medication. The secondary causes of hypertension include: kidney problems, kidney artery narrowing, hormone imbalance, birth control pills, pregnancy, and tumors of the adrenal gland.

Are there medicines that treat high blood pressure?

Many medications known as antihypertensives are available to lower high blood pressure. Some, called diuretics,rid the body of excess fluids and salt(sodium). Others, called beta blockers, reduce the heart rate and the heart's output of blood.

How can I avoid high blood pressure?

Maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise, eating foods low in salt or sodium, drinking alcohol only in moderation, and preventing obesity.