Blood pressure, or hypertension, measures the force of the one’s blood pushing against the artery walls. High blood pressure occurs when there is higher than normal pressure in a person’s arteries, either during when the heart contracts and pumps through the body, or when the heart is at rest and filling up with blood. In the taking of one’s blood pressure, if the pressure is high during the pumping phase then the first or top number will be higher, whereas if their pressure is high during the resting periods then the second or bottom number will be higher.
A person’s blood pressure reading is also affected by several other factors. The accuracy of the reading may be subject to the time of day the blood pressure is taken, whether the person is under stress or feeling highly emotional, whether the person has just been involved in rigorous physical activity, or if there are any other illnesses that are present. A normal blood pressure reading for the average person would be 120/80. These numbers will vary according to age and other health factors.
Why is having high blood pressure so dangerous?
High blood pressure means that a person’s arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood. This resistance, or blockage, means that the heart has to pump even harder in order for a person’s blood to be circulated properly. When the heart is forced to overwork itself for long periods of time, it can become enlarged to the point of not functioning properly.
The higher a person’s blood pressure is, the higher is the risk for them to develop health conditions such as heart disease or complete heart failure. In addition, it has the potential to cause artery damage and an aneurysm, as well as brain related damage such as dementia, seizures, and stroke. It is also capable of causing damage to the kidneys and possible complete kidney failure. High blood pressure is not something that should be taken lightly and it should be seen as a severe health issue and treated immediately.
What causes high blood pressure?
There are many factors that contribute to having high blood pressure but there is not one guaranteed explanation. Some of those factors that may cause high blood pressure to strike not only adults, but children and adolescents as well are:
- high cholesterol levels
- being overweight/obese
- lack of physical activity/Immobility
- smoking
- use of prescription or illegal drugs
- previous illnesses
Signs that you may have high blood pressure include the following:
- persistent headaches
- dizziness or light headedness
- bloody nose
- pounding in your ears
- blurred vision
How high blood pressure can be treated
Essentially treating your high blood pressure means finding the best possible ways to lower your blood pressure. Your doctor may suggest some of the following lifestyle choices that a person can make to decrease your high blood pressure:
- Don’t smoke any cigarettes or tobacco.
- Exercise regularly.
- Lose weight if overweight or obese.
- Eat a healthier diet.
- Decrease or completely eliminate your sodium intake.
- Decrease or eliminate your caffeine and alcohol intake.
- Try relaxation techniques such as meditation.
- Take prescribed medication.
A person’s entire body depends on the way their blood circulates throughout their body. Proper circulation allows the organs to function properly; however, high blood pressure does not allow for that. It is imperative that a person who is found to have high blood pressure learn how to manage it effectively and make any lifestyle changes that are necessary. Oftentimes there are no obvious symptoms of this disease but the seriousness of high blood pressure and the side effects that could come along with it should never be overlooked. Being aware of the problem could be the first step to saving your life.
References:
Mayo Clinic Staff “High Blood Pressure Dangers: Hypertension’s effects on your body” (accessed on March 20, 2011)
Webmd.com “Causes of High Blood Pressure” (accessed on March 19, 2011)
Davey, Dr. Patrick “High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)” (accessed on March 19, 2011)
Ehealthmd.com “What is High Blood Pressure” (accessed on March 20, 2011)
Jimmetta Carpenter - My name is Jimmetta Carpenter and I am a writer. I was born and raised in the Washington DC metropolitan area and have had a very big ...
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