| Next time you are with a group of 3
friends, take a good look around; one of you will have
high blood pressure. The sad part is, since there are no
symptoms, you may not even be aware of it. Untreated
high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, congestive
heart failure, stroke, or kidney failure. Various risk
factors contribute to this disease that are both under
our control, and out of our control. The only way to
determine if you have high blood pressure is to have
your blood pressure checked. The insidious nature of
this disease makes it a true Silent Killer.
The brain requires unobstructed blood
flow to nourish its many functions. Very high, sustained
blood pressure will eventually cause blood vessels to
weaken. Over time these weaken vessels can break, and
blood will leak into the brain. The area of the brain
that is being fed by these broken vessels start to die,
and this will cause a stroke. Additionally, if a blot
clot blocks a narrowed artery, blood ceases to flow and
a stroke will occur. Symptoms of a stroke include sudden
numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially
on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking, or
seeing, sudden severe headache. If you or someone with
you has one or more of these signs, don't delay, call
911.
Like the brain, the heart requires
blood to bring oxygen, and nutrients to its muscle
tissue. The narrowing of the arteries due to blockage
can cause high blood pressure. If this blockage occurs
in the arteries of the heart, coronary arteries, heart
muscle damage can occur, resulting in a heart attack.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, however most
heart attacks start slowly with mild pain and
discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the
center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes,
or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like
uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Shortness of breath may occur, as well as nausea, or
lightheadedness. It is vital to get help immediately if
any of these symptoms occur.
The kidneys act as filters to rid the
body of all waste products. Eventually, high blood
pressure can thicken, then narrow the blood vessels of
the kidneys. The kidneys becomes less efficient,
filtering less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood.
Over time, the kidneys may fail altogether. When this
happens, medical treatment such as dialysis, or a kidney
transplant may be needed.
The best way to find out if you have
high blood pressure is by having your blood pressure
checked regularly. Generally speaking, doctors will
diagnose a person with high blood pressure on the basis
of two or more readings, taken on different occasions. A
consistent blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or
higher is considered high blood pressure, or
hypertensive. It is vital to take steps to keep your
blood pressure under control. The treatment goal is
blood pressure below 140/90 and lower for people with
other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle including
healthy eating habits, reducing salt in the diet,
maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol
consumption, being physically active, and quitting
smoking is an effective step in preventing and
controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle
improvements alone are not sufficient in keeping
pressure controlled, it may be necessary to add blood
pressure medications. There are several options that
physicians have at their disposal, and each option
should be discussed, as to their side effects and
efficacy.
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