High Blood Pressure Can Cause Hypertension

Many people have this idea that high blood pressure and hypertension are two different cardiovascular problems. However, this is totally wrong. High blood pressure is in fact hypertension.

High blood pressure or hypertension is a silent killer; you can have it for years without even knowing it. Of the 50 million Americans who suffer from high blood pressure, more than 30% don’t even know they have this very grave condition.

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps. Your blood pressure increases during activity and decreases when you rest. If your blood pressure remains 140/90 or higher, this means you are suffering from high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk for cardiovascular complications, kidney disease, strokes and blindness. Fortunately, in most cases, high blood pressure can be controlled if one simply follows their doctor’s advice and instructions.

The worst thing about hypertension is that you do not even know you have it, until you check your blood pressure. This is why it is important to get your BP checked regularly as your grow older.

The most common symptoms of high blood pressure include

• headaches
• dizziness
• nose bleeds
• excessive perspiration
• muscular cramps
• weakness
• frequent urination
• rapid or irregular heart beat also known as palpitations

Most of these common symptoms usually occur when your high blood pressure has reached an advanced stage. Still there are many people who experience no symptoms of high blood pressure at all.

This is why it is so important to have a regular check up, especially if you are overweight, African American, smoke or drink excessively, inactive and have a family history of hypertension. These risk factors play a big role in you suffering from high blood pressure.

The risk factors for hypertension can be divided into two, those you can control and those you can not control.

The Risk factors you can’t control include

Age

The older you get, the risk for high blood pressure increases.

Race

African American people have a higher risk for developing high blood pressure, than Caucasians.

Family History

Hypertension and heart disease are hereditary and tend to run in the family. If your mother, father, brother, sister or even grandparents have had high blood pressure, chances of developing this disease increase considerably.

Sex

Men are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than women. However, after the age of 50 women are more likely to have hypertension.

Factors you can control to decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure include;

Obesity

It is a known fact that being overweight increases your risk for high blood pressure and heart problems. This happens because the greater the body mass, the more oxygen you need to supply blood to your body. Additionally being overweight also increases pressure on your heart by clogging or narrowing your arteries.

Inactivity

Lack of physical activity increases your risk of high blood pressure as overweight people tend to be the most inactive. Inactive people are also likely to have higher heart rates, as their heart muscles have to work harder to circulate blood throughout the body.

Smoking

Smoking not only damages the lining of the arterial walls, but also narrows your blood vessels, forcing your heart to pump blood harder.

Excessive Alcohol

It is not clearly known that how excessive alcohol can increase your risk for developing high blood pressure. However, over time heavy drinking can damage your heart.

Stress

High levels of stress have been known to raise blood pressure dramatically. Stress causes the heart to beat faster and damages the heart more than alcohol or smoking together.

Uncontrolled Hypertension Also Increases Your Risk of Developing;

• Arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries
• Coronary artery disease
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Kidney failure
• Metabolic syndrome

The main aim of treating high blood pressure is to prevent other health complications that can result. Only your doctor can best determine how to do this. Blood pressure goals are not the same for all, for some an ideal blood pressure maybe 120/80 and for some it may be 110/70.

The best way to keep your blood pressure under control is to change your lifestyle. If you are overweight and inactive, learn to eat right and exercise. Quit smoking and drink alcohol in moderate amounts. Reduce your salt intake and avoid stress by learning to relax.

Learn to control hypertension. Do not let it control you. Always remember to follow your doctor’s instructions and take you medication on time. Medication and lifestyles changes together can help you control hypertension and live a healthy and normal life.