HYPERTENSION

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HYPERTENSION

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Blood pressure
"Blood pressure" is the force with which your heart pumps blood through
the body. Occasional increases in blood pressure levels are not
unusual.
Hypertension
Hypertension is high blood pressure. When heart beats (contracts and
relaxes) it pumps out a certain volume of blood. The maximum arterial
pressure, measured in mm Hg, determines the systolic reading and the
lowest reading of this pressure is called the diastolic pressure. It is
widely accepted that a person having a reading of a systolic pressure of
greater than/equal to 140 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of greater
than/equal to 90 mm Hg is considered to have high blood pressure. When
such a reading is sustained over a period of time, it is diagnosed as
hypertension.
Causes
There are two types of hypertension. One is primary hypertension and
the other is secondary hypertension. The cause of primary hypertension
is unknown. It just happens but however, there are certain risk factors
or associations such as hereditary factors, race, age, environmental
and life-style factors (where you live, salt and other chemicals,
weight, stress, alcohol, lack of exercise). The difference between
primary and secondary hypertension is that we know the causes of
secondary hypertension. Usually, the causes of secondary hypertension
include renal artery stenosis (or other cause of increased plasma
renin), renal parenchymal disease (glomerulonephritis, diabetic
nephropathy, polycystic disease, obstructive uropathy), drugs (oral
contraceptives, steroids), and increased levels of catecholamines
(pheochromocytoma), glucocorticoids (Cushing's disease), or
mineralcorticoids.
Symptoms
Hypertension is referred to as "the silent killer" since those afflicted
seem to experience few, if any, symptoms. However, hypertension may be
associated with fatigue, headaches, lightheadedness, chest pains, visual
and speech disturbances, shortness of breath, and nose bleeds.
Treatments
We do not know what causes "essential" hypertension but we have proof
that there are many factors associated with its development, such as
age, race, and family history. Many of these cannot be controlled or
prevented; however, weight, diet, and life-style can be controlled to a
great

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