What Is High Blood Pressure?

What Is High Blood Pressure?

Also know as (HBP) is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems. It is also called hypertension. It usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It affects all types of people. It is more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Hypertension is 140/90 or higher. It is often called the 'silent killer' because it usually has no noticeable or visible warning signs or symptoms until other serious problems arise. Normal pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.

Symptoms:

It doesn't usually cause symptoms. Symptoms of HBP are often called the "silent killer" because they do not appear for years until a vital organ is threatened. People often do not seek medical care until they have symptoms arising from the organ damage caused by chronic (ongoing, long-term) high blood pressure. Pressure of at least 180/120 mm Hg, and there is evidence of progressive damage in one or more vital organs, often accompanied by a variety of symptoms. People can have it for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it. Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have any of the following symptoms: A sudden, severe headache,Chest pain (angina) symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Treatment:

If your HBP is too high, you need treatment to prevent damage to your body's organs. The goal of treatment is to reduce it so that you have a lower risk of complications. Key steps include following a healthy lifestyle, having ongoing medical care, and following the treatment plan that your doctor prescribes. Treatment is most effective when patient and doctor communicate well and collaborate on the program. Treatment that lowers high blood pressure greatly decreases the risk of stroke and heart failure. All drug treatments have side effects, and while the evidence of benefit is overwhelming, drug trials to lower moderately-elevated blood pressure have failed to reduce overall death rates. Treatment of primary HBP, especially moderate or severe decreases the risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, abnormal heartbeats, stroke, and kidney disease, and it reduces the risk of death from these conditions. Treatment can begin with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. In some cases, weight loss may be the only treatment needed. About 65 million Americans have this disease and more and more are turning to alternative therapies.

It has become the second most common reason for medical office visits in the United States. High blood pressure damages your blood vessels. It is associated with 35% of heart disease caused by coronary artery disease and 49% of all cases of heart failure. It also affects one out of every three Americans or 65 million people, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). and often runs in families. Hypertension occurs more often in blacks-in 32% of black adults compared with 23% of whites and 23% of Mexican Americans. It is a serious illness that affects nearly 65 million adults in the United States. It is dangerous because it increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, death. Always ask your doctor if you suspect that you may have high blood pressure, because with no visible symptoms it really is a silent killer.

I should know .....I'm living with it.

LA is a free lance writer who enjoys writing articles to give consumers enough information to make informed decisions.

For more information on health and fitness and a variety of other topics visit LA's site http://umeus.info

For more information on controlling your blood pressure visit LA's site http://www.yourinforighthere.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=LA_Ziegler