Managing High Blood Pressure

David Riewe asked:


Knowing about your body can be very beneficial to your health as you age. Knowing about your blood pressure can help prevent strokes, heart disease and kidney disease. In this article you will find everything you should know about your blood pressure.

Anyone can have high blood pressure. It doesn’t matter your age, race, ethnicity or gender. Many people suffer from high blood pressure and have a higher risk of strokes and heart diseases than those with regular blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure is always rising and falling throughout the day and if it rises and stays that way over time, you have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is usually referred to as hypertension. When you have high blood pressure it puts more pressure on the heart, making it work harder than usual. This is why you end up at risk for strokes or heart disease.

What is the normal blood pressure level?

The normal blood pressure level is less than 120 over 80 or less. The first number is your systolic pressure and the second number is your diastolic pressure. Your numbers are read 120 over 80, etc. If your pressure is 140 over 90 or higher you have high blood pressure.

What is systolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is beating.

What is diastolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is relaxing.

What are the risk factors of high blood pressure?

The most common risks of high blood pressure are stroke and heart disease. There are a few other risk factors that can be modified and some that cannot be. The following are some risks:

• Tobacco
• Physical Inactivity
• Diabetes
• Abnormal Cholesterol
• Being overweight

Who can get high blood pressure?

Unfortunately anyone can get high blood pressure but it is more common among African Americans. Nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. African Americans also have a much higher death rate from kidney disease and stroke than white Americans. Even so, with treatment you can help lower your blood pressure.

How can I lower my blood pressure?

Fortunately there are many different ways of helping to lower your blood pressure. Exercise is a great way to lower it. Doing physical activity will make your heart stronger over time. If you have a stronger heart it can pump blood easier lessening your risks of stroke and kidney diseases. It is never too late to start exercising!

If you are concerned about your blood pressure consult your physician. Ask any and all questions you might have and find the best way for you to lower it. If all regular ways fail, consider medication. Talk with your doctor about your health and lifestyle so he can choose the best medicine for you. If you want to live a healthy life, taking control of your blood pressure is very important.

Harvey

Paul Rodgers asked:


Health is not just a goal, it is an ongoing process. Health and ill health depend on the power of digestion. Healthy, low fat foods are a great way to change your diet for the better. Healthy food provides quality fuel, and will improve your health while raising your energy levels. Healthy people who have blood pressure that is low but still in the normal range (when measured at rest) tend to live longer than people who have higher normal blood pressure.

Blood pressure is an important diagnostic index, especially of circulatory function. Blood pressure is not the same all the time; it changes to meet your body’s needs. Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use. Blood pressure is elevated for two main reasons: too high blood volume too narrow blood vessels due to a substance our kidneys make called angiotensin. However, the biggest problem with treatment of high blood pressure is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of the application of our current knowledge.

Weight loss appears to have a stronger blood pressure-lowering effect than dietary salt restriction. Weight reduction in the obese individual also may serve to lower blood pressure; in addition, the avoidance of excessive weight provides other health benefits. Among school-age kids and teens, hypertension is usually linked to excess weight. If there’s no underlying illness, your child’s doctor may recommend weight loss, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, decreased salt intake, increased exercise, and even relaxation techniques.

Smoking is the biggest risk factor for having a heart attack. Smoking is directly linked with the development of coronary artery disease. Smoking is bad not only for the blood vessels, but bad for health in general-Sodium intake: For some individuals too much intake of salt (sodium) may cause an increase in blood pressure. For example, smoking and high blood pressure cause a greater risk to health than obesity. However, the combined effect of stopping smoking, cutting down the amount of saturated you eat and lowering your blood pressure causes a very large reduction in your risk of having a stroke or having a heart attack.

When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause: The heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. If high blood pressure is left unchecked, it can cause blood vessels in the kidneys to become thickened and narrowed, possibly leading to reduced blood supply and reduced kidney

function. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no noticeable warning signs or symptoms until other serious problems arise.

Herman

Vagabonda asked:


My partner’s just been told that they have high blood pressure 160/98. How soon could this be reduced to 140/80 or better still 120/80?
Not wanting to take medicine, would hope to do this through exercises and change of diet etc.

Marie

Chuck E. Cheese asked:


I’ve heard that breathing can be used to lower high blood pressure but I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a gadget to try it. Does anyone know if you can learn it by yourself and how?

Katherine

Joe Barton asked:


Do you have high blood pressure? Do you have low blood pressure? This is an important question for your health and your life. Why? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about one in three adults in the United States have high blood pressure. And only about 63 percent of those with high blood pressure are even aware that they have it. Causing, a heart wrenching of almost 60,000 Americans dying each year of complications related to high blood pressure. So what are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Unfortunately, the reason so many people don’t know they have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is that there aren’t really any clear symptoms of hypertension. However, some high blood pressure sufferers complain of: frequent headaches and dizziness. Therefore, if you even question that you or a loved one has high blood pressure, it is important to monitor your blood pressure regularly. And if you know your blood pressure is too high, you can do something about it TODAY. Keep reading!

Blood Pressure 101

What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is basically the force pushing on the arteries by your blood as it passes through them. Someone with high blood pressure has blood that is putting higher than normal pressure on the arteries. This puts more stress on the body. Hence, the heart has to work so hard to get the blood pumped through those arteries that it can actually enlarge and damage the heart, eventually causing a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm and other heart problems if left untreated. High blood pressure is not something to mess around with!

Causes for High Blood Pressure

What could put you at risk for high blood pressure? There are numerous causes but here is a list of the major ones:

Heredity: If your parents had high blood pressure, you are at risk.

Race: African Americans are most at risk. However, all ethnicities are on a rise.

Gender: Men are more likely than women to have high blood pressure.

Age: As you age, your risk of high blood pressure increases.

Salt Intake: Sodium intake has been linked with high blood pressure sufferers.

Obesity: Being overweight is a huge risk factor for high blood pressure.

Smoking: Smokers will often times be more at risk for hypertension.

A Sedentary Lifestyle: If you are required to sit a lot at your profession… your risk rises.

A Natural Cure for High Blood Pressure

Due to the seriousness of hypertension, doctors do have medications for sufferers. Including: Diuretics, Beta Blockers, ACE Inhibitors, Alpha Blockers and Vasodilators. However, here is the shocking part, as well as costing hundreds to thousands, many of these medications could have the following side-effects: kill nutrients in body, risk of asthma symptoms, speed heart rate, depletion of taste, rashes, cold symptoms, kidney problems, headaches, nausea, weight gain, and growth of hair. Not pleasant! Besides, I thought they were suppose to help hypertension sufferers?

Now the good news! There is an all-natural treatment for high blood pressure. Yes, you can drop points off your blood pressure reading in days! Doctors would agree there are numerous non-pharmaceutical things you can do lower your blood pressure. Start with these…

How to Lower Your Blood Pressure Today!

1. Educate Yourself! Most people hate studying but we’re talking about your life! Check out our web site below for more information on lowering your blood pressure.

2. Lose Weight! What are ways you can be more active and cut a few calories during each day? Jump on the scale in one week and you might be surprised. PS. Your blood pressure will drop too!

3. Lower your salt intake now. Try to lower your intake to less than 2,400 milligrams per day. If possible, go as low as 1,500 milligrams per day. Lower your salt… lower your blood pressure.

4. Get enough potassium. Eat foods rich in potassium including bananas, vegetable juice, potatoes, citrus fruits and fish.

5. Take those Calcium Pills and eat that low-fat dairy. This mineral is proven to help the cause of lowering blood pressure.

6. Pack in the fiber! Any fiber is going to be helpful for clearing out the excess gunk in your body and keeping the blood pressure normal. Switch to whole grain foods whenever possible.

Finally, don’t stop here! This is just the tip of the iceberg for getting your life back to normal and lowering your blood pressure. Please take a few more minutes and check out our high blood pressure/hypertension website. You would be amazed what others are saying about it! We offer a 100% satisfaction guaranteed report loaded with tons of information and tips to begin lowering your high blood pressure today! Life is priceless, please do not delay! You will drop points in months and feel like a new person! 100% guaranteed! What do you have to lose?

http://www.bloodpressurenormalized.com/hbp1/

Brian

peterhutch asked:


ACE inhibitors stop the production of a hormone called angiotensin II that makes the blood vessels narrow. As a result, the vessels expand, improving blood flow. Tension in the circulation is also lowered by the kidneys filtering more fluid from the blood vessels into urine. This also helps reduce blood pressure. If your blood pressure is not easily controlled on simple medication, your doctor will probably use a medicine of this type.

While most cases of high blood pressure arise from an unknown set of factors, in some cases a definite cause is clearly identified. In these cases, treatment will have two different goals. First, to control the high blood pressure. Second, to relieve, if possible, the underlying cause. Someone with high blood pressure because of an underlying hormone disorder, for example, would likely be controlled on blood pressure medications but would also be treated in an attempt to resolve the hormone imbalance at the root of the problem.

The most commonly used diuretic to treat high blood pressure in the UK is called bendroflumethiazide (bendrofluazide) - but there are others. For example, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, cyclopenthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, and indapamide. Diuretics work by increasing the amount of salt and fluid that you pass out in your urine. This has some effect on reducing the fluid in the circulation which reduces blood pressure. They may also have a ‘relaxing’ effect on the blood vessels which reduces the pressure within the blood vessels. Only a low dose of a diuretic is needed to treat high blood pressure. Therefore, you will not notice much diuretic effect (you will not pass much extra urine).

Even people who do not have hypertension know that diet plays a very important role in the cause or prevention of this health condition. And it is true. If your diet is high in fat and sodium, you have an increased risk of having high blood pressure. So you better avoid food that is high in salt, sugar and fat.

But before going on a diet, you should also put into consideration your age and weight. Not all types of diet programs can be applied to everyone. It is important that your diet should not only be healthy, but somehow it should also fit your tastes and lifestyle.

The preferred treatment of choice for those suffering high blood pressure is usually a change of lifestyle. For those who are overweight, smoke, lead highly stressful lives or seldom exercise, sometimes this is the only wake up call they need. Once they make the necessary lifestyle adjustments, they will often find their blood pressure symptom restored to a more normal range.

If you have high blood pressure, or have just been diagnosed with it, you may have concerns and questions about how it is going to be treated and how high blood pressure will affect you in your day-to-day life. You may also be worried about how high blood pressure will affect your future health.

Slightly raised blood pressure may not need to be treated so aggressively, but regular monitoring is important. If you have very severe high blood pressure, you may need to go to hospital for treatment. But it’s much more likely that you will be cared for by your GP and/or a nurse.

Linda

sulamita berrezi asked:


High blood pressure or hypertension - to give it the correct medical term - is regarded as the

silent killer. It is a disease of the modern age. The fast pace of life and the mental and physical

pressures caused by the industrial and metropolitan environments give rise to psychological

tensions. Worry and mental tension increases the adrenaline in the blood stream and this, in

turn, causes the pressure of the blood to rise.

The blood which circulates through the arteries within the body supplies every cell with

nourishment and oxygen. The force exert by the heart as it pumps the blood into the large

arteries creates a pressure within them and this is called blood pressure. A certain level of blood

pressure is thus essential to keep the blood circulating in the body. But when the pressure

becomes too high, it results in hypertension which is caused by spasm or narrowing of the small

blood vessels, known as capillaries, throughout the body. This narrowing puts more stress on

the heart to pump blood through the blood vessels. Hence, the pressure of the blood to get

through rises in proportion to the pressure on the heart.

The blood pressure is measured with the instrument called sphygmomanometer in millimeters of

mercury. The highest pressure reached during each heart beat is called systolic pressure and

the lowest between the two beats is known as diastolic pressure. The first gives the pressure of

the contraction of the heart as it pushes the blood on its journey through the body and indicates

the activity of the heart. The second represents the pressure present in the artery when the heart

is relaxed and shows the condition of the blood vessels. The blood pressure level considered

normal is 120/70, but may go up to 140 /90 and still be normal. Within this range, the lower the

reading, the better. Blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/95 is considered border line area.

From 160/96 to 180/114 , it is classed as moderate hypertension, while 180/115 and upward is

considered severe. A raised diastolic pressure is considered more serious than the raised

systolic pressure as it has a serious long-term effect. The higher the pressure the greater the

danger it causes to the wall.

Symptoms

Mild and moderate hypertension may not produce any symptoms for years. The first symptoms

may appear in the form of pain toward the back of the head and neck on waking in the morning,

which soon disappears. Some of the other usual symptoms of hypertension are dizziness, aches

and pains in the arms, shoulder region, leg, back, etc., palpitations, pain in the heart region,

frequent urination, nervous tension and fatigue, crossness, emotional upset, tiredness and

wakefulness.

A person suffering from high blood pressure cannot do any serious work, feels tired and out of

sorts all the time. He may experience difficulty in breathing and suffer from dyspepsia.

Hypertension, if not eliminated, may cause heart attacks or strokes or other disability conditions

such as detachment of the terina.

Causes

The most important causes of hypertension are stress and a faulty style of living. People who

are usually tense suffer from high blood pressure, especially when under stress. If the stress

continues for a longperiod, the pressure may become permanently raised and may not become

even after removal of the stress. An irregular life style, smoking and an excessive intake of

intoxicants, tea, coffee, cola drinks, refined foods, destroy the natural pace of life. The expulsion

of waste and poisonous matter from the body is prevented and the arteries and the veins

become slack. hardening of the arteries , obesity, diabetes and severe constipation also lead to

hypertension. Other causes of high blood pressure are excessive intake of pain killers, common

table salt, food allergies and eating a high fat, low fibre diet, processed foods deficient in

essential nutrients.

The kidneys play an important role in controlling blood pressure through secretion of rennin, a

natural chemical. If increased rennin is secreted by the kidneys, more salts are retained in the

body, which leads to an increase in the volume of circulating blood and consequently to an

increase in the blood pressure. Repeated infections and inflammation in the kidneys can also

give rise to hypertension.

The Cure

The modern medical treatment of high blood pressure is highly unscientific as it brings down the

pressure by drugs without making any effort to remove the underlying causes. Drugs may

temporarily reduce blood pressure,but they do not cure the condition and are harmful in the

ultimate analysis. All drugs against hypertension without exception, are toxic and have

distressing side effects. The safest way to cure hypertension is to remove the real cause. The

natural way of dealing with it is to eliminate the poisons from the system which cause it. Persons

with high blood pressure should always follow a well-balanced routine of proper diet, exercise

and rest. Diet is of primary importance. Meat and eggs cause the blood pressure to rise more

than any other food. The pressure is lowered and blood clotting diminished by partaking of a

higher fruit content, lower protein and non-flesh diet. A natural diet consisting of fresh fruits and

vegetables, instead of a traditional diet, is helpful in getting rid of the poisons from the body. A

hypertension patient should start the process of healing by living on an exclusive fruit-diet for

atleast a week, and take fruits at five-hourly intervals thrice in the day. Oranges, apples, pears,

mangoes, guava, pineapples, raspberry, water-melon are the best diet in such cases. Bananas

and jack fruit should not be taken. Milk may be taken after a week of ‘fruits only’ diet. The milk

should be fresh and should be boiled only once. The patient can be permitted cereals in his food

after two weeks.

Vegetables are also good for the patient of hypertension. They should preferably be taken raw. If

they are cooked, it should be ensured that their natural juices are not burnt in the process of

cooking. Vegetables like cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, onion, radish, cabbage and spinach are

best taken in their raw form. They may be cut into small pieces and sprinkled with a little salt and

the juice of a lemon added to them so as to make them more palatable.

Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. The pressure

and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasms of the small arteries.

Garlic also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm besides relieving the symptoms of

dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. The

average dosage should be two to three capsules a day to make a dent in the blood pressure.

Indian gooseberry (amla) is another effective food remedy for high blood pressure. A

tablespoonful each of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning

in this condition. Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a

rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is

essential for preventing capillary fragility.

Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. It was proved in recent

experiments that a substance extracted from watermelon seeds has a definite action in dilating

the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure.

Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and

hypertension. Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low

incidence of hypertension even if they do not control their salt-intake. They have also found that

people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. The

two essential nutrients seem to help the body throw off excess sodium and are involved in

important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in

abundance in fruits and vegetables and calcium in dairy products.

Exercise plays an important role in curing hypertension. Walking is an excellent form of exercise.

It helps to relieve tension, builds up the muscles and aids in the circulation of blood. As the blood

pressure shows signs of abating, more exercise like bicycling, swimming, jogging should be

taken. Yogic asanas such as surya namaskar, makrasana,matsyasana, vajrasana,

ardhapadmasana, pavan-muktasana, shavasana and simple pranayama like anuloma-viloma

and abdominal breathing are beneficial. All asanas should, however, be discontinued except

shavasana if the blood pressure is above 200 milimeters.

Water Treatment

Prolonged neutral bath daily for an hour or so at 90 o to 95 o will be beneficial. Cold compress

should be kept on the head during this bath. Other water treatments include hot foot or leg bath

for 10 minutes, hot compress over the heart replacing it as bath cools down.

Persons suffering from hypertension must ensure at least eight hours of restful sleep, because

proper rest is an important aspect of the treatment. Most important of all, the patient must avoid

over-straining, worries, tension, anger and haste. He must try to be cheerful and develop a

contented mind. The natural treatment may take sometime but it is the safest and best way to

get rid of this disease.

Greg

Tom Parker asked:


If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure your first reaction may be to worry. However, provided you are diagnosed early enough you can start taking positive steps towards managing your condition and help reduce the damage it can cause.

The first step to combatting high blood pressure is by taking the appropriate prescription medication which your doctor recommends. Anti-hypertensive drugs are often prescribed to help reduce high blood pressure, often alongside alpha blockers and beta blockers. In emergency situations medication may be prescribed that lowers blood pressure suddenly, but this practice is very dangerous. Before you even consider taking any medication be sure to consult a trained doctor and seek advice.

Using medication is just one of many ways you can manage high blood pressure. Improving your diet can help reduce blood pressure. A poor diet leads to the insides of your veins and arteries being coated in a layer of fat which increases the pressure of your blood. Consuming extra fruit and vegetables will help because they contain high amounts of fibre, vitamins and minerals. High blood pressure can also be caused by chronic dehydration and as many of us know alcohol causes dehydration (hence why you often want another beer, then another beer etc). Therefore, consuming high amounts of water and lowering your alcohol intake will keep you hydrated and decrease the risk of high blood pressure. Although it is a good idea to make positive changes to your diet, this is best done under the supervision of a trained dietician or your doctor. Be sure to consult with your dietician or doctor prior to making any serious changes to your diet.

Improving your lifestyle will also help lower your blood pressure. A daily exercise routine and/or yoga routine should help reduce your body fat and therefore lower your blood pressure. Before embarking on an exercise routine you take the advice of a personal trainer and have them forumlate an exercise plan for you. If you smoke, cutting down can yield positive results. Smoking releases chemicals into your body which make your blood vessels sticky and causes fatty deposits to collect in the arteries. Furthermore, smoking can cause your arteries and veins to shrink which will increase your blood pressure.

You can also try natural remedies which include aromatherapy, herbs and yoga. With aromatherapy you should choose oils which have a soothing effect and relax your muscles including rose, lavender and cypress. Herbal remedies, such as stinging nettles and lemon balm, can also help lower your blood pressure. Finally, yoga may help you relax and therefore lower your blood pressure.

In conclusion, you should first seek the advice of your doctor before attempting to treat your high blood pressure. If medication is required then they will let you know. However, making improvements to your diet and lifestyle, or even trying some natural remedies can assist you greatly in combatting high blood pressure.

Wesley

Peter sams asked:


High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries. Hypertension results from two major factors, which can be present independently or together:

• The heart pumps blood with excessive force

• The body’s smaller blood vessels (known as the arterioles) narrow, so that blood flow exerts more pressure against the vessels’ walls

High blood pressure or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. The arteries are the vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all of the tissues and organs of the body.

Symptoms

Migraine pain tends to intensify over the first 30 minutes to several hours, and may last from several hours to a day or longer. Afterward, the affected person is usually weary, and sensitive to sudden head movements.

Hypertension has aptly been called the “silent killer” because it usually produces no symptoms. Untreated hypertension increases slowly over the years. It is important for anyone with risk factors to have their blood pressure checked regularly and to make appropriate lifestyle changes. Such recommendations are especially important for individuals who have prehypertension or hypertension.

Migraine without aura may be preceded by elevations in mood or energy level for up to 24 hours before the attack. Other pre-migraine symptoms may include fatigue, depression, and excessive yawning.

Risk Factors

During the last decade, the number of Americans with high blood pressure has increased by 30 percent. Over 65 million American adults now have high blood pressure, and this condition affects close to 1 billion people worldwide. Less than half of these people are on medication, however, and only about half of this group has their blood pressure under good control with such drugs.

Age and Gender

Age is the major risk factor of hypertension. Blood pressure increases with age in both men and women, and in fact, the lifetime risk for hypertension is nearly 90%. Two-thirds of Americans over age 60 have hypertension. Older women (60 years and above) currently have the highest rates of hypertension, and mortality rates from hypertension are higher in women than in men.

Ethnicity

Compared to Caucasians, African Americans have 1.8 times the rate of fatal stroke, 1.5 times the risk for fatal heart disease, and 4.2 times the rates of end-stage kidney disease. In general, about 34% of African American men and women have hypertension; it may account for over 40% of all deaths in this group. The prevalence of high blood pressure among African Americans is among the highest in the world.

Causes

In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown. In fact, you can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. That’s why it’s the “silent killer” — it creeps up on you. Factors that may lead to high blood pressure in the remaining 5–10 percent of cases, which are known as secondary hypertension, include:

• Kidney abnormality

• A structural abnormality of the aorta (large blood vessel leaving the heart) existing since birth

• Narrowing of certain arteries

These problems can usually be corrected. For example, doctors can repair a narrowed artery that supplies blood to a kidney. Most of these problems can be ruled out by a careful history, a physical examination and a few tests.

Hypertension is referred to as essential (primary) when the doctor is unable to identify a specific cause. It is by far the most common type of high blood pressure. The causes of this type are unknown but are likely to be a complex combination of genetic, environmental, and other factors.

Lance

nowaynotinamillion asked:


My blood pressure is slightly elevated. I’m concerned that if I got pregnant that it would affect the baby negatively. If there are any health professionals out there who can give me sound advice on this please respond to how high blood pressure would affect a pregnancy and should I be concerned and what are the problems that could/would occur. I hav no knowledge so any information would be helpful Thanks.

Rhonda