Blood Pressure -The Basic Facts

2007-01-30T21:50:00.000Z

Blood Pressure,the Basic Facts
Your heart is a hard working machine which pumps blood around your body through a very sophisticated system called arteries and capillaries; it is then pushed back to your heart by means of your veins.

Your blood pressure is the force of this blood in your body pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart is pumping. As your heart contracts it then pushes this blood into your arteries which causes an increase in pressure. The highest pressure is known as the systolic pressure.

When your heart relaxes and fills with blood, the pressure in your arteries then falls which is known as the diastolic pressure. When you have your blood pressure measured in your arm, it is both of these pressures which are measured.

Your Blood pressure is always given as a systolic and diastolic pressure number, and both are an important measurement. They are always written one above or before the other number, such as 120/80 (which is a classic measurement), and always expressed in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

The systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 130/90), so if your blood pressure is 120/80, it is a reading of "120 over 80".

Blood pressure varies over a wide range of people. For instance, the top reading which is when the heart contracts (systolic) can vary from 90 to 240 mmHg and the bottom pressure which is when the heart relaxes (diastolic) can often vary from 40 to 160 mmHg.

Your blood pressure can also differ significantly dependent on what you are doing during the day. Your lowest blood pressures usually occur when you are sleeping or if relaxing all your muscles.

Being stood for periods of time, or if you're taking any form of exercise, any anxiety and problems, or nerviness can also cause increases in a person's blood pressure.

So in a single day your blood pressure could vary by up to a 30 to 40 mmHg systolic reading with comparable changes in your diastolic pressure. This is why it's so important to have your blood pressure calculated under the same surroundings every time you have it taken.

For the most part of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays about the same whether you are sitting or standing still, so preferably, your blood pressure should be 120/80 or lower when you're relaxed.

If your blood pressure level stays high at 140/90 or higher, you may have a disease called hypertension which basically means high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, your heart has to work harder to pump the blood through your arteries.
Blood Pressure, the Basic Facts

Seven Ways To Reduce Your Risk From Hypertension

2007-01-21T21:27:00.000Z

Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure
Hypertension (high blood pressure) can lead to other serious health problems or even death.

Hypertension has been called "the silent killer" for two reasons. First, it is silent since it has no specific symptoms. Secondly, it is a killer.

High Blood pressure(defined as more than 140/90mmHG) is a very common problem that affects about 50 million people in the United States alone. The British Heart Foundation reports that approximately 41% of men and 33% of women either have raised blood pressure or are being treated for raised blood pressure. The prevalence of high blood pressure increases with age in both men and women. Around 80% of men and 70% of women with high blood pressure are not receiving treatment.

People who have hypertension that is not treated are much more likely to die from, or be disabled by, cardiovascular complications such as strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, heart rhythm irregularities, and kidney failure, than people who have normal blood pressure.

Are You At Risk?

Risk factors are conditions that increase your personal risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some of these factors, most notably, your sex, your heredity (a family history of cardiovascular disease), and your age are not under your control, but other risk factors most certainly are under your influence.

1. Here are seven ways to reduce your risk from the "Silent Killer."

2. Take a walk. Take a brisk 30 minute walk everyday. Think you don’t have the time for a 30 minute walk each day? How will you ever find the time for the months of convalescence that heart attacks and strokes require? Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

3. If You Smoke, Quit. Smoking can increase the amount of fatty material that collects in your arteries and may contribute to raised blood pressure readings.

4. Eat right. That means, at a minimum: lay off the salt, consume more foods that are high in fiber and low in fat (particularly saturated fat), eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables (400g) daily, increase your carbohydrate intake, and don’t forget the garlic.

5. Avoid Heavy Alcohol Use. Drinking too much alcohol increases blood pressure and can lead to other heart problems. Moderate alcohol intake, however, is not associated with high blood pressure. Moderate alcohol intake is two drinks o r fewer per day for men and one drink or fewer per day for women.

6. Supplement your diet. First, supplement your diet to eliminate any obvious dietary deficiencies. If you don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, herring or mackerel, or garlic, take a supplement. Second, if your diet is well balanced you still should add a cardiovascular supportive antioxidant to your daily regime. The evidence is overwhelming: properly formulated antioxidants will help preserve your good health.

7. Lose weight. Excess weight puts a strain on your cardiovascular system. Losing as little as 10 pounds can help decrease your heart’s workload and lower your blood pressure.

8. Relax. Although stress does not cause hypertension, hormones released by your body when you are under stress can increase your blood pressure. You may be able to get away with stressing out now, but you’ll pay for it later. Laughing is a good way to relax as it stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain, and thus lowers the blood pressure.

The really good news is that hypertension can be treated very successfully.

However, as we all know, prevention is better than cure.
Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure

Hypertension the Silent Killer

Blood Pressure -The Basic Facts

Seven Ways To Reduce Your Risk From Hypertension