High blood pressure has many names such as hypertension, HBP or HTN, this is a stage where blood pressure is at elevated level more than normal pressure in the arteries. Highlights of High Blood Pressure
1. Maintain a healthy weight and don't be overweight.
2. Be more physically active.
3. Take less salt and sodium.
4. Fresh vegetables and fresh fruits and low-fat dairy products.
5. Moderate or avoid alcoholic beverages.
6. Exercise for 30 minutes or more
Causes of Blood Pressure
Genetic, Stress, Environment ....
The causes of High Blood Pressure can be due to genetic, enviornment, stress and other medical complications. factors.
1. Due to Environment.
2. Due to stress work related or personal
3. Due to gentic factors.
4. Other medical complications.
Hypertension Risk Factor
High Blood Pressure Risk Factor
The undetected high blood pressure is a silent killer. The undetected high blood pressure can lead to heart failure, kidney faliures etc. Do you know two thirds of Americans over age 60 have hypertension. Latest study show hypertension is also becoming more common in children and teenagers.
1. Heart stroke
2. Kidney failure
3. Eye bleeding etc
4. Increases health risk.
Hypertension Symptoms
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
The silent symptom of high blood pressure makes it deadly disease. Once detected either at early stage or at advance stage drastic changes are needed in lifestyle and in some case medication will be necessary.
1. Changes in lifestyle
2. Experience pain in head and neck when waking up.
High Blood Pressure diseases can not be treated with over the shelf medication. Patients with hypertension symptoms need consultation with physicians for medication, lifestyle change,
and diet plan to lower blood pressure.
Hypertension stage 2 starts when blood pressure reading is above 159/100. Under this medical condition flow of blood in arteries is obstructed by constrictions leading to very high
blood pressure. This puts pressure on the heart to pump harder and harder to pump blood. Untreated high blood pressures will put heart at risk and can lead to heart disease and heart attacks.
At this stage blood pressure patients are given medication or combination of two or more drugs to bring down elevated blood pressure.
As you get old treating high blood pressure becomes difficult. It is good to check your blood pressure if you are over the age of 40 (women - 35).
Drastic changes are required at this stage starting with visit to Doctor. Doctors will recommend combination of drugs depending on medical condition, lifestyle changes and some workout schedule.
The lifestyle changes include adding fresh vegetables, fruits, low fat dairy products and quitting smoking, and alcohol. This also includes low intake of salt and sodium in daily diet.
People who are likely to get high blood pressure are African American, people over the age of 35, people who smoke and drink alcohol excessively. People who eat high fatty products,
packaged products in high sodium also have chance of getting hypertension stage 2. Women who are pregnant and are taking birth pills also have chance of getting high blood pressure.
Definitely being overweight also puts people on risk of getting hypertension stage 2.
In hypertension stage 2 doctors recommen a variety of drugs starting with diuretic medication. The excess water and sodium is flused out from body by taking Diuretics pills.
Blood pressure Drugs
Diuretics: Flushes water and sodium out of body lowering blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors: Stops certain hormones in developing so that blood vessels don’t become narrow.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers: Prevents angiotensin harmone from affecting blood vessels.
Beta blockers: This drug relives nerve signals going to heart and blood vessels and helping blood pressure to go down.
Calcium channel blockers : This drug helps reducing flow of calcium going into the heart and blood vessel cells. Once cells are relaxed which in turn helps in reducing
elevated blood pressure.
Today there are many drugs available in market to help blood pressure patients. With medication, lifestyle changes patients are able to reduce elevated blood pressure and live normal life.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR, DON'T DEPEND ON THIS BLOOD PRESSURE CHART - PLEASE NOTE This is just for information
Blood Pressure Reading
There are no major symptoms which will alert blood pressure patients. The only way to be on top of this disease is by tracking your blood pressure. Tracking blood pressure is very important for BP patients. One should note that blood pressure reading varies throughout the day with exercise, stress, sleep, diet and other activities.
Kids Blood Pressure
Watch your child’s weight - National Education Program on children has come out with new guidelines where they recommend that kids with blood pressure should have regular checkup starting at age 3. Doctors check blood pressure only when child is going through illness. Now Doctors are being encouraged to check Blood pressure when children comes for routine checkup. The biggest risk of blood pressure in children is obesity. The early prevention will help children to lead normal and healthy life.
One of the lifestyle changes in treating blood pressure is through YOGA. To keep blood pressure (hypertension) in normal range, YOGA is wonderful mind and body activity helping in lowering blood pressure. Yoga helps both physically and mentally. It synchronizes your body and mind and gives you greater control over your breathing.
In YOGA you perform physical poses along with breathing techniques which helps and prevents hypertension through mind and body activities. Check more on YOGA poses which help in lowering blood pressure.
NOTE YOGA is not treatment for blood pressure, it is one of the lifestyle changes which helps in reducing blood pressure.Consult your doctor for more details. [read more]
DASH Diet Plan
DASH eating plan for Blood Pressure
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan is something blood pressure patients must follow to lower blood pressure. Studies show that DASH diet containing less sodium help in lowering blood pressure. The sodium percentage in DASH diet is less then what an average adult eats daily in America. [read more]
Natural Remedies
Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure
Lifestyle changes coupled with natural herbals are also good way to reduce elevated blood pressure. In order to take natural herbals consult your doctor. Doctors may prescribe medication in addition to herbal supplements. Some of the well known natural alternates are Garlic, Folic Acid, Fish Oil, homeopathic medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. Read More
Malignant Hypertension
Malignant Hypertension is sudden elevation in blood pressure where Blood pressure reading are extreamly high. This diseases is a meadical emergency. It requires urgent attention and lab test.
Common Causes:
1 High blood Pressure Numbers
2 Abnormal High Heart Beats
3 Changes in reflexes, mental status and sensation etc.
More information about Malignant Hypertension .... Read More