High Blood Pressure
BLOOD PRESSURE
The heart pumps blood and other nutrients through the arteries to the rest of the body. The term blood "pressure" means the force exerted on the arteries by the blood passing through them. It is determined by how much resistance there is in the arteries, and is not a measure of how "strong" the heart muscle is. If blood pressure is too great, it can damage the vessels and restrict blood flow to vital organs.
THE FACTORS
Many factors are associated with high blood pressure, including genetics, age, race, stress, obesity, smoking, a high- salt diet, excessive consumption of alcohol, and a sedentary lifestyle.
SYMPTONS
High blood pressure is often silent or without symptoms until a major problem develops.
Only when high blood pressure is severe do symptoms appear. Warning signs can include nosebleeds, racing or irregular heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness. It's a mistake to conclude that you don t have high blood pressure because you don't have any symptoms.
WHO ARE MORE PRONE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
<-> People with blood relatives who have high blood pressure (father, mother or sibling)
<-> Men over the age of 55
<-> Women over the age of 65
<-> Post menopausal women
<-> Some women who take birth control pills
<-> People who get little or no regular physical activity
<-> People who smoke
<-> People who are overweight
<-> People with high cholesterol
<-> People with diabetes
THE DANGER
High blood pressure (hypertension) can cause eye and kidney damage, stroke (blockages or weakening of vessels to the brain), Heart Attacks (from blockages in the heart arteries).
HOW BLOOD PRESSURE IS MEASURED?
The pressure exerted on the arteries when the heart is beating is called the "systolic" blood pressure. This is the number at which sounds are first heard through the stethoscope. The pressure present in the arteries when the heart is not pumping is termed the "diastolic" blood pressure. It is the pressure when sounds are last heard with the stethoscope. The blood pressure is expressed as the systolic pressure "over" the diastolic pressure.
KEEP BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER CONTROL
<-> Follow doctor's treatment guidelines.
<-> Eat more celery. Celery contains an oil that can lower blood pressure.
<-> Keep diet low in fat, reducing salt intake, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.
<-> Exercise regularly.
<-> Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, melons, dark green leafy vegetables.
<-> Manage stress.
<-> Eating up to three or four cloves of garlic everyday may lower blood pressure. Alternatively, you can try garlic supplements.
The heart pumps blood and other nutrients through the arteries to the rest of the body. The term blood "pressure" means the force exerted on the arteries by the blood passing through them. It is determined by how much resistance there is in the arteries, and is not a measure of how "strong" the heart muscle is. If blood pressure is too great, it can damage the vessels and restrict blood flow to vital organs.
THE FACTORS
Many factors are associated with high blood pressure, including genetics, age, race, stress, obesity, smoking, a high- salt diet, excessive consumption of alcohol, and a sedentary lifestyle.
SYMPTONS
High blood pressure is often silent or without symptoms until a major problem develops.
Only when high blood pressure is severe do symptoms appear. Warning signs can include nosebleeds, racing or irregular heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness. It's a mistake to conclude that you don t have high blood pressure because you don't have any symptoms.
WHO ARE MORE PRONE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
<-> People with blood relatives who have high blood pressure (father, mother or sibling)
<-> Men over the age of 55
<-> Women over the age of 65
<-> Post menopausal women
<-> Some women who take birth control pills
<-> People who get little or no regular physical activity
<-> People who smoke
<-> People who are overweight
<-> People with high cholesterol
<-> People with diabetes
THE DANGER
High blood pressure (hypertension) can cause eye and kidney damage, stroke (blockages or weakening of vessels to the brain), Heart Attacks (from blockages in the heart arteries).
HOW BLOOD PRESSURE IS MEASURED?
The pressure exerted on the arteries when the heart is beating is called the "systolic" blood pressure. This is the number at which sounds are first heard through the stethoscope. The pressure present in the arteries when the heart is not pumping is termed the "diastolic" blood pressure. It is the pressure when sounds are last heard with the stethoscope. The blood pressure is expressed as the systolic pressure "over" the diastolic pressure.
KEEP BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER CONTROL
<-> Follow doctor's treatment guidelines.
<-> Eat more celery. Celery contains an oil that can lower blood pressure.
<-> Keep diet low in fat, reducing salt intake, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.
<-> Exercise regularly.
<-> Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, melons, dark green leafy vegetables.
<-> Manage stress.
<-> Eating up to three or four cloves of garlic everyday may lower blood pressure. Alternatively, you can try garlic supplements.
posted by healthy_live @ 1:49 PM
