HYPERTENSION - HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - DANGER TO THE HEART
Who has HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Everyone has blood pressure. However approximately every
5th of New Zealand adults has abnormally high blood pressure - known
medically as Hypertension.
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood
against the artery walls as it circulates around the body. A blood pressure
reading is a measurement of this pressure.
A blood pressure reading consists
of two components, both of which are measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
e.g. 120 / 80.
The higher number is the "systolic" reading. This is the
pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts to force the blood around the
body.
The lower number is the "diastolic" reading. This is the pressure
in the arteries when the heart is relaxed after a beat.
It is normal for
blood pressure to vary throughout the day in response to factors such as stress
(physical, emotional) and exercise, however it usually quickly returns to a
normal level. Blood pressure can also increases with age.
There is no
clear dividing line between "normal" blood pressure and increased and/or high
blood pressure, hypertension.
Generally blood pressure is accepted as high
when it is consistently greater than 140/90.
What are the SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION?
Usually there are no signs and symptoms of hypertension until the
condition has been present for a long time - sometimes for many years. Because
of this, many people are not aware that they have hypertension.
Over
time, the continuous high pressure of blood puts extra strain on the blood
vessels and the internal organs. Often people do not consult a doctor until
after the condition has progressively caused damage to the blood vessels and
internal organs such as the heart and kidney. For this reason hypertension has
been referred to as the "silent killer".
People with hypertension are at
greater risk of developing medical conditions such as:
· Stroke
·
Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
· Enlarged heart
· Heart
attack
· Kidney failure
· Heart failure
· Aneurysm - a sac-like
widening of a blood vessel, which bulges outwards and can burst, causing a
haemorrhage, a heavy or uncontrollable bleeding.
· Damage to the retina of
the eye
What are the possible CAUSES?
In approximately 90% of cases the cause of the hypertension is
unknown.
This is referred to as "essential" hypertension. In the other 10%
of cases hypertension is due to factors such as kidney disease or various gland
disorders and is called "secondary" hypertension. In these cases, treating the
underlying cause will often relieve the hypertension.
Who gets HYPERTENSION?
It is difficult to predict who will develop hypertension however
there are a number of known risk factors for the condition.
Known risk
factors include:
· Obesity
· Inactive lifestyle
· Heavy alcohol
intake
· Smoking
· Use of oral contraceptives
· Occupational,
emotional stress
· Family history of hypertension
· Age greater than
60
· Male gender (although females catch up post menopausally)
It is
recommended that every adult have his or her blood pressure checked regularly in
order to detect and treat hypertension as early as possible.
What are the FIRST FEW EASY STEPS TO AVOID or LOWER HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE?
· Maintaining a healthy bodyweight
· Exercising
regularly
· Stopping smoking
· Reducing salt, alcohol and fat
intake
· Reducing stress levels
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