Job and Career Articles
Search:

Home | Health


High Blood Pressure - How serious Is It?

By: Courtney Brand

High blood pressure is normally defined as having constant blood pressure measurements of 140/90mmHg or above whereas normal blood pressure is in the range of 120/80 or below. The first number is a measurement of the pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps out blood during each beat, which is when it contracts in order to push the blood out into the arteries, and is known as systolic blood pressure. The second number is the pressure as the heart relaxes prior to the next beat and is called diastolic blood pressure.

Blood pressure tends to goes up and down, even in people who have normal blood pressure. If your measurements stay above normal most of the time, you’re at risk and the risk grows as you blood pressure levels rise. If you have high blood pressure your primary aim should first be to gain control over it, and then take steps to lower your blood pressure through exercise, nutrition and, if you are overweight, weight loss.

High blood pressure is often known as the silent killer because you can have it for years without being aware of it. Over 50 million people suffer from high blood pressure, but nearly one third aren’t even aware of it. Almost one in three American adults has high blood pressure, which is approximately 72 million people.

When you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your body which can result in a weakening of the heart. High blood pressure can lead to many other life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It can also lead to vision changes and even blindness. You will have a higher risk of these problems if you are overweight, are physically inactive, have diabetes, high cholesterol levels, drink alcohol in excess, suffer from depression or smoke cigarettes.

A home blood pressure monitor can be helpful in controlling high blood pressure. The American Heart Association and other organizations recommend anyone with high blood pressure monitor his or her blood pressure at home. It has been shown that using a blood pressure monitor at home results in greater blood pressure control as many people gain a strong sense of responsibility for their own health and are more likely to achieve their blood pressure reduction targets.

Regular monitoring over a period of time and recording the results can also help your doctor determine whether there is a need for medications and how well your treatment and lifestyle changes are working. For example, it can indicate the benefits you are receiving from your exercise program, changes to your diet, reduction in alcohol consumption, smoking cessation and any other lifestyle changes you have made.

With rising costs for just about everything these days, monitoring your blood pressure at home may decrease the number of visits you make to your doctor, thereby cutting medical expenses and at the same time reducing travel expenses, all of which could compensate for the cost of a blood pressure monitor. Keeping your blood pressure under control is vital to your health, so even if you currently have normal blood pressure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent it from rising.

Article Source: http://www.targetsearch.org/articles

The author has been writing articles online for in excess of 4 years. Not only does she specialize in health and weight loss, you can also check out her latest websites at Portable Massage Chair and Air Purifiers.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Health Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Health
Member Login
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Article Directory Software
Click here to download the exact software that powers this directory for FREE. Start your own article directory today!
Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
New Stuff
About Us
Site Blog
Forum
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

Powered by Article Dashboard