High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, or better known as high blood pressure, is actually known as the silent killer. It causes many life giving organs to totally shut-down. My family has a long history of hypertension. Let's see if I can tell you a few of them; my paternal grandmother, uncontrollable; my mother, uncontrollable; my husband, on medication to control; my brother, on medication to control; and me, of course. Mine is presently in control, with medication, but for no known reason it will rise to a dangerous level, then go back down like normal. I have a lot of trouble with it when I'm really stressed out over family matters, arguments, and sometimes, nothing.
This disease gives you no apparent warning signs that you have it. I have a slight headache, or a little dizziness, but nothing to really be alarmed about. Therefore, medical attention and current readings are very necessary. Once diagnosed with high blood pressure, you need to keep on any medications the physician has prescribed for you, visit your physician on a regular basis, adjust your eating and lifestle. Read below what it is, and some of the risk factors involved. It might save your life.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). It's measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). High blood pressure (or hypertension) is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure.
High blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke, especially along with other risk factors.
High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over age 35. It's particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women who are taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure, too.
American Heart Association recommended blood pressure levels
| Blood Pressure Category |
Systolic
(mm Hg) |
|
Diastolic
(mm Hg) |
| Normal |
less than 120 |
and |
less than 80 |
| Prehypertension |
120-139 |
or |
80-89 |
| |
|
|
|
| High |
|
|
|
| Stage 1 |
140-159 |
or |
90-99 |
| Stage 2 |
160 or higher |
or |
100 or higher |
*Your doctor should evaluate unusually low readings.
Am I At Risk?
If you're an adult and your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or above, you have hypertension and are at higher risk for heart disease, stroke and other medical problems. See a doctor and learn how to manage your blood pressure and how often to have it checked. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so if you haven't had it checked in awhile, make an appointment now. One in four adult Americans has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don't know they have it.
Factors that contribute to high blood pressure
Medical science doesn't understand why most cases of high blood pressure occur, so it's hard to say how to prevent it. However, we do know of several factors that may contribute to high blood pressure and put you at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
Controllable risk factors
- Obesity — People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
- Eating too much salt — A high sodium intake increases blood pressure in some people.
- Drinking too much alcohol — Heavy and regular use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically.
- Lack of physical activity — An inactive lifestyle makes it easier to become overweight and increases the chance of high blood pressure.
- Stress — This is often mentioned as a risk factor, but stress levels are hard to measure, and responses to stress vary from person to person.
Uncontrollable risk factors
- Race — Blacks develop high blood pressure more often than whites, and it tends to occur earlier and be more severe.
- Heredity — If your parents or other close blood relatives have high blood pressure, you're more likely to develop it.
- Age — In general, the older you get, the greater your chance of developing high blood pressure. It occurs most often in people over age 35. Men seem to develop it most often between age 35 and 55. Women are more likely to develop it after menopause.
A Family's History of Diseases site launched August
25, 2004
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2004-2007
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was last updated on 04/29/07
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