High Blood Pressure - What Exactly Is That?

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At your next medical exam, the doctor or nurse informs you that you have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Although you may have heard the term high blood pressure before, you are unsure exactly what it is and what it means, and you hear yourself say somewhat vaguely, But I feel fine.

Everyone has blood pressure. As the heart is pumping blood through the blood vessels, the force of the blood on the walls of the vessels, is the blood pressure. There can be many causes for abnormally high blood pressure. It rises when youre active, excited or nervous. It is also a natural aging symptom. But when the pressure is stays high for extended periods of time it can cause damage to the body.

You can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. In fact, about 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure. The condition usually has no symptoms. So thats good, right? Wrong. The dangerous thing about high blood pressure is that it can cause damage to your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and several other parts of your body, even though there are no apparent sysmptoms. This condition can cause coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.

When the doctor takes your blood pressure, they are measuring the force of the blood. This is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The first number recorded is the systolic pressure reading. This is the pressure generated exactly when the heart contracts. The second number is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure between heart beats, your heart at rest. These two measurements make up your blood pressure reading,

The normal blood pressure for most adults is less than 120, and less than 80. This is expressed as 120/80. Prehypertension is when the top number is between 120 and 139 or the bottom number is between 80 and 89. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is split into two different stages. In stage one, the upper number is between 140 and 159, or the lower number is between 90 and 99. In stage two, the more critical stage, the upper number is 160 or higher, or the bottom number is greater than 100. Note that you do not have to have both numbers be high in order to have high blood pressure. Either number being high puts you at risk.

If you have high blood pressure, you and your doctor can discuss what steps to take to control it. Being otherwise healthy, keeping track of your blood pressure numbers, and following a plan to reduce it are key to keeping your blood pressure controlled.


About the Author:
If you have high blood pressure, and want to take steps to improve it, then check out the new Blood Pressure Improver at www.BloodPressureImprover.com.



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