Hypertension is a health condition that is a characterized by a blood pressure value of 140/90 and above. This condition is dangerous for the body, not only because it causes the heart to work harder, but also because it creates atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and increases the chances of coronary disease and stroke (which are among the leading causes of death in developed countries).
Hypertension is very widespread. About 2 out 3 of people over the age of 65, suffer from this disease. If the blood pressure values are between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, the patient suffers from pre-hypertension. This means that there is a high likelihood that hypertension will occur in the future, if the appropriate measures are not taken immediately and in the presence of other diseases (like diabetes or kidney failure).
Risk factors:
Hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol) Smoking Diabetes mellitus Obesity Lack of exercise Advanced age (55 years for men and 65 for women) Family history of coronary disease below the age 65 for women and below the age of 55 years for men.
Effects of high blood pressure in the body- Hypertension may negatively affect the following systems of the human body: brain, heart, eyes, arteries and kidneys.
Brain: High pressure is a major cause of strokes. It can cause the rupture of a weakened blood vessel, leading to the internal bleeding of the brain. Heart: The arteries carry blood and oxygen to the heart. If the heart is not oxygenated enough, this could lead to heart failure. Kidneys: The kidneys are the filters of the body that clean the blood that circulates inside from many useless ingredients. Hypertension, over time, damages the vessels of the kidneys. This causes the waste products to accumulate in the body. Eyes: The condition affects the vessels of the eyes. Vision may be reduced gradually and the end result may be blindness.
How to treat hypertension:
Stop smoking: Smoking is one of the most common causes of hypertension. Even one cigarette is enough to cause a temporary increase in blood pressure, which returns to normal levels after about 30-60 minutes. When the researchers measured the pressure of smokers, they discovered that within five minutes of lighting up a cigarette, systolic pressure increased dramatically (more than 20 mmHg). Reduce your body weight: The hypertensive patients that weigh more than 10% above their ideal weight may be able to reduce their blood pressure, just by losing their extra weight. The loss of weight facilitates the smooth function of the heart. What is more, the large accumulation of fat, especially in the abdomen, increases the likelihood of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems.
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By: James S. Jacobs
