Hypertension is the second leading cause of death and leading cause of physical disability and mental problems, caused by stroke.
Measuring the frequency of blood pressure helps to detect hypertension timely and appropriate treatment prescribed by your doctor will help to decrease the risk caused by this disease.
Hypertension usually occurs when blood vessels narrow, which makes blood flow more difficult, thus causing the heart to work more intensively. Although pressure level depends on several individual characteristics, data from industrialized countries suggest that pressure rises progressively during life.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined by a systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mmHg – 140/90 mmHg.
Hypertension affects approximately one billion people worldwide (20% of the adult population) and that this will increase to 1.5 billion by 2025. (World Health Organisation – The World Health Report, 1997)
By the age of 50 years, 1 in 5 people have hypertension after age 50 years 1 in 3, and after age 65, 2 of 3 people have hypertension. In total in US are more than 40 million patients with hypertension.
Hypertension is one of the most important causes of morbidity and premature mortality in both developed countries and developing countries, estimated to be responsible for 6% of deaths worldwide. Hypertension is a risk factor for heart disease (angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure), stroke, dementia and kidney failure.
By controlling hypertension, the risks can be significantly reduced. European and American guidelines recommend that blood pressure be reduced to 140/90 mmHg. For some patients with high risk, is set a lower target value for blood pressure, in order to reduce associated complications. Diabetic patients and patients with risk factors to reduce blood pressure 130/80 mmHg or less reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Risk factors
There are a range of factors that may increase the risk of hypertension, some of which can be controlled, while others, unfortunately, no. Two major risk factors for hypertension that can not be controlled are age 40 years+ and family history of hypertension. Some key risk factors that can be controlled are:
* Smoking
* Physical inactivity
* Obesity
* Excessive alcohol intake
* Stress
Lowering the pressure in your blood through lifestyle changes
Lifestyle is extremely important in preventing hypertension and the first step is giving up smoking. Salt is also a factor that causes blood pressure to rise. Although daily consumption of salt a person should be limited to 1.5 grams.
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