can anyone explain to me about blood pressure?

Question

can anyone explain to me why high blood pressure is a health problem?? good answers please...

Answer 1

High blood pressure or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. The arteries are the vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all of the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase the blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called “pre-hypertension”, and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure, which is the top number, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. The diastolic pressure, which is the bottom number, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction. The diastolic pressure, therefore, reflects the minimum pressure to which the arteries are exposed.

An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). These complications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. Accordingly, the diagnosis of high blood pressure in an individual is important so that efforts can be made to normalize the blood pressure and, thereby, prevent the complications. Since hypertension affects approximately 1 in 4 adults in the United States, it is clearly a major public health problem.

Excellent website below.

Hope this helps.

Rick the Pharmacist

Answer 2

Could be White Coat Syndrome or it could be high blood pressure. You need to have your blood pressure taken at different times of the day, different days of the week, and under different situations. Get yourself a blood pressure cuff and test yourself at home. Do morning, afternoon, and evening times. Do it under stress and relaxed. After eating, before eating. Before and after exercise. Etc. Only then will you know whether it's White Coat Syndrome or high blood pressure. The bottom number is just as critical as the top, even more so if it's over 80. 85 is borderline mild high blood pressure. There are no signs of high blood pressure. That's why it's called the "silent killer." So don't take this lightly and shine it on. Get the equipment and keep a record for your doctor. Do it over a month's time. A good doctor will have your blood pressure taken a second time later on during the visit. This will help him/her to determine if it's high blood pressure or White Coat Syndrome.

Answer 3

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 4

High blood pressure results from damage to your arteries. It also causes damage to your arteries. Damaged arteries can develop a thrombus (clot) that causes a heart attack, stroke, or other acute vascular incident (depending on which artery the clot occurs in).

High blood pressure can also literally cause an artery to leak or burst, which can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
High blood pressure can also damage your kidneys.

So, hypertension can have many nasty effects.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 5

High blood pressure causes damage to many organs. For example, the heart mucle becomes thicker, more rigid after having to pump against higher resistance for many years, and this can result in heart failure. High blood pressure also damages the kidneys, can result in end-stage kidney disease (meaning that the person would die without dialysis). High blood pressure can also increase the risk of stroke (bleeding in the brain).

Answer 6

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Answer 7

check out this website

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/DS00100

Answer 8

I can do better than that - why don't you visit this website - it will answer all your questions and more -
http://ailments.in/hypertension.html

Answer 9

When your doctor checks your blood pressure and tells you the result, she or he will say two numbers. The numbers are written one above, or before, the other. The first, or top, number is your systolic pressure. This tells you how much the blood flowing through your blood vessels pushes against the vessel walls as your heart beats. The second, or bottom, number measures the pressure while the heart relaxes between beats. This is the diastolic pressure. If your blood pressure is normal, your systolic pressure is less than 120 and your diastolic pressure is less than 80—for example, 119/79.

Do You Have High Blood Pressure?
One reason to have regular check-ups by your doctor is to check your blood pressure. If you have only a slightly higher reading—such as a top number between 120 and 139 or the bottom number between 80 and 89, you have prehypertension. You may be at risk for developing high blood pressure. Your health care provider will probably want you to make changes in your daily habits to try and lower those numbers.

Your doctor will say your blood pressure is high when it measures 140/90 or higher at two or more checkups. He or she may also ask you to check your blood pressure at home at different times of the day. If the numbers are still high after several checks, your health care provider will probably suggest medicine, changes in your diet, and exercise.

What If Just the First Number Is High?
For older people, the first number (systolic) often is high (greater than 140), but the second number (diastolic) is normal (less than 90). This problem is called isolated systolic hypertension. Isolated systolic hypertension is the most common form of high blood pressure in older people.

Isolated systolic hypertension can lead to serious health problems. It should be treated in the same way as regular high blood pressure. If your systolic pressure is over 140, ask you doctor how you can lower it.

Can You Prevent or Control High Blood Pressure?
More than half of Americans over age 60 have high blood pressure. But, that does not mean it is part of normal aging. Try these healthy habits to help you control or prevent high blood pressure.

Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight adds to your risk of high blood pressure. Ask your doctor if you need to lose weight.
Exercise every day. Moderate exercise can lower your risk of heart disease. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week or more. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise plan if you have a long-term health problem or if you are a man over 40 or a woman over 50.
Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods. A healthy diet is important. To control high blood pressure, eat a diet rich in these foods. Make sure you are getting enough potassium. Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in potassium. If using packaged foods, read the nutrition labels to choose those that have more potassium.
Cut down on salt and sodium. Most Americans eat more salt and sodium than they need. A low-salt diet might help lower your blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about your salt intake.
Drink less alcohol. Drinking alcohol can affect your blood pressure. The effect is different depending on body size. As a general rule, men shouldn’t have more than two drinks a day; women not more than one drink a day.
Follow your doctor’s orders. If lifestyle changes alone do not control your high blood pressure, your doctor may tell you to take blood pressure pills. You may need to take your medicine for the rest of your life. If you have questions about it, talk to your doctor.
High Blood Pressure Facts
If you have high blood pressure, remember that:

High blood pressure may not make you feel sick, but it is serious. See a doctor to treat it.
You can lower your blood pressure by changing your daily habits and, if needed, by taking medicine. If you need to take high blood pressure medicine, lifestyle changes may help lower the dose you need and reduce side effects.
Are you already taking blood pressure medicine and your blood pressure is less than 120/80? That’s good. It means the lifestyle changes and medicine are working. But if another doctor asks if you have high blood pressure, the answer is still “yes, but it is being treated.”
Tell your doctor about all the drugs you take. Don’t forget to mention over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements. They may affect your blood pressure. They also can change how well your blood pressure medicine works.
Blood pressure pills should be taken at the same time each day. For example, take your medicine in the morning with breakfast or in the evening after brushing your teeth. If you miss a dose, do not double the dose the next day. Call your doctor to find out what to do.
If you have high blood pressure, test it at home between checkups. Ask your doctor, the nurse, or your pharmacist to show you how. Make sure you are seated with your feet on the floor and your back has something to lean against. Relax quietly for 5 minutes before checking your blood pressure. Your arm should be resting on a support at the level of your heart. Keep a list of the results to share with the doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse.
Resources
For more information about high blood pressure, contact:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Health Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
301-592-8573
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Library of Medicine
MedlinePlus
Search for: “High Blood Pressure”
www.medlineplus.gov

American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231
1-800-AHA-USA-1 (1-800-242-8721)
www.americanheart.org