High Blood Pressure – The silent killer

Just about one out of every three American adults has high blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension as its medical term indicates a reading of the human BP of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Once it develops, it all too often lasts a lifetime.

High blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer because it typically has no symptoms. It is therefore valuable to have a regular medical check-up. If not treated as soon as it’s discovered, it can cause the heart to enlarge, which in turn might lead to heart failure. As the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and/or kidney problems multiply considerably.

A typical healthy human blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. People suffering from high BP have their blood pressure level consistently high for even as the heart rest.

Many factors are involved in elevating your blood pressure. Most doctors will check your blood pressure several times on different days to ensure that, in fact you do have hypertension. It is therefore, highly recommended not to take in foods rich in caffeine, alcoholic or tobacco products at least thirty minutes before your medical examination. Once you know you have the condition, you will need to check the pressure regularly and keep in touch with a professional doctor specializing with heart problems and conditions.

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