High blood pressure is becoming a very serious health crisis in the United States. A greater number of people are diagnosed with high blood pressure every year than almost any other ailment. High blood pressure can lead to serious health complications and place an individual at risk for other health problems. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury and anyone with blood pressure in the range of 120/80 to 139/89 is considered to be pre-hypertensive, or is at the bottom level of high blood pressure.
There are rarely any symptoms associated with high blood pressure. If an individual experiences high blood pressure symptoms, a health care professional should be contacted immediately. Symptoms such as confusion, severe headache, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, excessive tiredness, sudden visual changes, shortness of breath, or severe sweating are typically a sign of excessively high blood pressure and require immediate emergency medical attention.
In most cases of high blood pressure there is no one defining cause. Causative factors are usually accumulative and vary greatly from patient to patient. Factors such as the use of excess sodium or salt in the diet, chronic alcohol use, the use of certain medication including appetite suppressants and cold medications, obesity, anxiety, stress, pain, diabetes, renal disease, alcohol toxicity, recreational drug use, arteriosclerosis, renal artery stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta can factor into high blood pressure. Lifestyle choices such as a high fat, high sodium diet and a failure to exercise properly can also factor into having high blood pressure.
About 1 in every 5 Americans experiences high blood pressure. Risk factors are typically tied into lifestyle choices, although in some cases there seem to be no risk factors. Science recently has suggested that high blood pressure risk factors can also be genetically linked. Those with high blood pressure in their immediate families should take precautions such as a low sodium diet, proper exercise, the avoidance of smoking and alcohol consumption, and weight loss when necessary.
Diagnosis typically includes a physical examination. The physician should ascertain a thorough medical history to determine the typical blood pressure history over a period of several years. Tests may be performed such as a blood test known as a chem 20, a urinalysis, x-rays of the kidneys, or an echocardiogram. These tests can help reveal if the high blood pressure has caused any damage and to what extent damage has occurred. Of course, taking the blood pressure can determine whether or not the blood pressure is high.
The blood pressure consists of two numbers, an upper number and a lower number. If the upper number is above 140 and the lower number is above 90 in an otherwise healthy individual, lower in people with conditions such as diabetes or other illnesses.
Treatment for high blood pressure varies, depending on how high the blood pressure is and what lifestyle changes can be adequately made. Home monitoring of the blood pressure is recommended. A change in diet and exercise, weight loss, and a significant decrease in the amount of alcohol which is consumed is typically recommended as they apply. Medications may or may be prescribed. If the blood pressure is consistently over 140/90 the physician should prescribe medication to help bring the blood pressure down.
Medication comes with a risk of side effects, such as constipation, nausea, and diarrhea which may make a patient very uncomfortable. In this case it is best to try to lower blood pressure with lifestyle changes instead of medication.
Products which contain MSG, sodium, and baking soda typically have very little effect in people without high blood pressure. These ingredients tend to have s very significant effect in people with high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks and should be addressed vehemently. Patients with high blood pressure in their immediate families should take advantage of free blood pressure screenings in addition to scheduling an annual check up with a family physician. Monitoring blood pressure once a year past the age of 45 is not often enough. Most cases of high blood pressure show up after the age of 45 and are routinely diagnosed in a family physician setting.
Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Autonomic nervous system
Circulatory system
Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Lopressor is often used in the treatment of chest pain and hypertension. It is also used both in the treatment of and the prevention of heart attacks. Lopressor is a beta blocker which relaxes the blood vessels and assists the circulation of blood. Lopres more...
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Inderal is commonly used in the treatment of angina (chest pain), tremors, hypertension, disorders relating to heart rhythm, and other diseases and disorders relating to the heart and circulation. Inderal is generically prescribed as propranolol and is a more...
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Anxiety and hypertension generally go hand in hand. Anxiety is described as a disorder of the nervous system, and a person who is anxious naturally has a lot of fears, phobias, worries and even panic attacks that are usually illogical. If the person who h more...
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Blopress, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, is used for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). It works by blocking chemicals in the body that cause blood vessels to tighten. It also relaxes the blood vessels to help blood flow more fre more...
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Coversyl can be generically prescribed as fosinopril and is typically used in the treatment of hypertension. Coversyl is part of the family of medications known as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin converting enzyme. more...
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The generic equivalent to Catapres is clonidine, both of which are commonly used to treat hypertension. Despite the fact that the American Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve Catapres for the use of relieving withdrawal symptoms related to alc more...
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Diovan is often used in the treatment of hypertension and is also commonly used in patient treatment following a heart attack as a preventative measure against a second heart attack. Diovan is generically prescribed as valsartan and is part of the family more...
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Verapamil is the generic version of several medications. It can be prescribed as Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, and Verelan PM when using a brand name prescription. Verepamil is a member of the family of medications known as cal more...
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Aldactone, which is generically prescribed as spironolactone, is commonly used to conditions where the body has too much aldosterone in the body. Aldactone is a potassium sparing diuretic which prevents the body from absorbing too much salt and keeps the more...
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Microzide, which is generically prescribed as hydrochlorothiazide, is commonly used to treat edema in patients with congestive heart failure or kidney disorders, or in patients who are taking long term steroids or estrogen. Microzide can also be used to t more...
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