High Blood Pressure, Causes, Symptoms, and Control
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a condition in which there is tension, or high pressure, in the arteries. Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a state in which the systolic pressure repeatedly exceeds 140 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) with the diastolic pressure over 90. The blood pressure reading shows the systolic pressure number on top and the diastolic pressure number on the bottom (i.e. 140/90).
The systolic pressure is equal to the pressure in the arteries when blood is being pumped forward into them as the heart contracts. The diastolic blood pressure is the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes after each contraction.
An increase in either the systolic blood pressure or the diastolic pressure or both may be indicative of possible health problems. Untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), kidney failure, damage to the eyes, and/or stroke.
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Primary high blood pressure (also known as essential hypertension) is far more prevalent than secondary hypertension. Essential hypertension makes up about 95% of the cases of high blood pressure, affecting around 72 million Americans. The exact cause of primary high blood pressure is often difficult to pinpoint. In fact, its cause is generally related to several factors combined.
Possible factors that may lead to primary high blood pressure are:
Genetic/hereditary factors – The exact gene responsible for causing high blood pressure has not yet been identified. However, high blood pressure seems to be more prevalent among certain groups, including African Americans, than others. Excessive salt consumption Obesity Aging Kidney disease Diabetes Lack of exercise Smoking or being exposed regularly to secondhand cigarette smoke Elevated cholesterol levels Taking oral contraceptives Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Oftentimes, there are no noticeable symptoms of high blood pressure until it has reached the stage of causing serious complications, such as heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. Premature death can be a fatal consequence of untreated high blood pressure. Thus, hypertension has been labeled “the silent killer.” This is why it is so important to have routine checkups and periodic blood pressure screenings. If there IS a problem with your blood pressure, it can be detected early through regular exams.
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