Managing High Blood Pressure

Scott James asked:


Quite often when people have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and they then go on to suffer incidences of dizziness they tend to panic as to what might potentially be the cause. This is perfectly natural and the best way to deal with this as in all matters pertaining to high blood pressure is to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Quite often dizziness is brought about by the sudden drop in blood pressure and people affected wonder what effect this could have and what is indeed a safe limit for blood pressure to drop to?

Regarding the last question is that there is no specific number to which blood pressure is considered to be too low it is just the fact that a sudden fall in blood pressure can be dangerous.

A sudden drop in blood pressure and the resultant dizziness can be caused by a whole number of things ranging from being pregnant, (if you are a woman) through to an adverse reaction to different types of medications. Lastly it could indeed be what is called neurally mediated hypotension went by the dizziness because primarily as a result of standing for long periods. This is usually considered to be a condition that primarily affects younger people basically occurs because of a miscommunication between the heart and the brain.

What is it about high blood pressure that makes it a problem and when ignored so lethal?

In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown.

In fact, you can suffer from high blood pressure for years without knowing it hence its name “the Silent Killer”.

If spotted there are a couple of signs that can be attributed to high blood pressure and if these are observed and with out apparent cause then they should not be left untreated.

Some of the following can be found to be included as symptoms: Dizziness, Fainting Spells, Morning Headache , Increased frequency of urinating at night.

Though the above can indicate high blood pressure it has to be emphasised that they might just as easily indicate other associate conditions.

What is the exact definition of high blood pressure?

Using an internal network and system of vessels called arteries, the heart pumps blood and nutrients to the body’s major tissues and organs.

In nine cases out of ten then the particular cause of high blood pressure is hard to identify and as such in these cases the high blood pressure is termed “Primary (Essential) High Blood Pressure”.

For those whose incidences of high blood pressure fall outside of the category described above then if the cause of the high blood pressure can be traced directly to one particular failing organ etc then the cause can usually be dealt with and as such the “Secondary High Blood Pressure” can accordingly be treated quite successfully.

In every one out of ten cases of high blood pressure diagnosed, the incidence falls within the category known as “Malignant Hypertension”. Quite often this is discovered totally by accident and may be as a result of an associate test such as an eye test whereby the Optician can sometimes detect the condition by merely looking into a patients eye.

As in all cases if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure and you suddenly start to suffer incidents like these on a semi regular basis then the bottom line is that you need to see your doctor as soon as is possible.



Jeanne

airforcewolf16 asked:


Both of my parents have high blood pressure before they were 50 and I was wondering if this will play a factor in my career choice. I have fine blood pressure right now (I’m 22) but I am worried that I might develop it later on in life and get kicked out of a good career. Should I do this and does the FAA allow you to take high blood pressure medication?

Gladys

Jan Oliver asked:


High blood pressure is one of our most common health problems and is steadily increasing in most modern societies. Knowing that you have this condition can be very disturbing, especially if you don’t fully grasp what’s behind it and the implications for your future health. But when you understand what’s going on inside your body you’ll be better able to cope with it and to find effective options for treating it.

The heart pumps blood throughout the body to supply vital organs and functions with oxygen and other nutrients. Blood pressure is the force exerted on the walls of our blood vessels as blood circulates throughout the body. Blood pressure readings are always associated with two numbers; the higher one is called systolic and the lower is diastolic. Systolic blood pressure is the force of the blood when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the pressure at rest between heartbeats. Both numbers are important but doctors tend to look more closely at systolic pressure as people begin to age and their blood pressure starts to increase.

In a healthy circulatory system blood flows relatively easily through relaxed, flexible and unrestricted blood vessels. Under these ideal circumstances blood pressure tends to measure around 120 systolic over 70 diastolic. However, blood pressure will increase whenever there is something that restricts blood flow or makes it harder for the heart to pump. This could be in response to strenuous activity, for instance, when the muscles need more blood. This is entirely normal and blood pressure will return to normal when the body rests.

However, there are many other, unhealthy circumstances that can cause blood pressure to rise. Fatty deposits called plaque can build up in the arteries, usually caused by a poor diet. These build-ups obstruct blood flow, just like blocking up a water hose, and increase the pressure and load on the heart. Another thing that can cause the heart to work harder and increase blood pressure is excess weight.

There are many things that can cause your blood pressure to rise but when the increase becomes consistent above a certain level you will be diagnosed with high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure is usually considered to start at 140 over 90, although many doctors consider anything over 130/80 to be a potential risk and they refer to it as pre-hypertension.

So let’s say you have hypertension. What are the risks and how are you going to lower your blood pressure? The first part of the answer is easy. If not treated and controlled, hypertension can lead to many serious health problems. These include heart disease, kidney disease and even eye damage including blindness.

The heart and circulatory consequences are easy to explain. Constant high pressure against your blood vessels can lead to arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. This condition will contribute to further pressure on the heart. The combination of hardened and partially blocked arteries can eventually trigger a heart attack. Or, plaque can break loose from within an artery and cause a blockage elsewhere in the body. The result is often a stroke.

The good news is that high blood pressure can be treated and it’s even easier to prevent. Most experts agree that the vast majority of cases of hypertension will respond well to positive lifestyle changes. And if you make such changes early enough you will prevent high blood pressure in the first place.

Forearmed with the knowledge of what poor quality food can do to your arteries you are more likely to eat a healthy diet. Being aware of the extreme load placed on your heart by being overweight may help you stay active and fit and to keep an eye on your weight. Maybe even more important than weight alone is your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a fair indicator of the ratios of fat and muscle in your body. A healthy BMI is 25 or less.

It’s important to take your blood pressure seriously and keep it in check with a healthy lifestyle. The only other alternative with high blood pressure is to use powerful medications. These are usually effective at dropping your blood pressure but at the cost of numerous unpleasant side effects. The choice should be easy. Forewarned is forearmed.



Kristin

Roger G asked:


my son has duchenne muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy. as his mother i am a carrier. they say mom’s often have it too. so, do you have to have high blood pressure with it too?

Vivian