›› High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure,
or hypertension, is a serious problem for a lot of people. It
is especially common in the United States, in people who are 10 or more
pounds overweight, and in people 50 and older. However, a
plenty of young and otherwise healthy people also suffer from high
blood pressure. Because having a high blood pressure
increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and strokes, it is
not to be taken lightly.
Blood pressure is measured by two different numbers, the first is your
‘systolic’ pressure, and the second is your
‘diastolic’ pressure. Systolic represents
your blood pressure during the period of ventricular contraction in
your heart, and diastolic pressure represents your blood pressure when
the atria are contracting and the ventricles are filling up.
Because the ventricles are the larger and more muscular heart chambers,
the systolic reading is always higher than the diastolic.
Blood pressure readings are given as systolic over diastolic.
An example would be 120 over 80, which is considered to be a textbook
standard for healthy blood pressure. Systolic readings from
100 to 140 and diastolic readings of between 70 and 90 are considered
the normal range. A systolic pressure of more than 140, a
diastolic higher than 90, or both is considered high blood
pressure.
A number of different factors can contribute to high blood
pressure. First of all, an inactive, sedentary lifestyle
greatly increases you likelihood of developing high blood
pressure. Being overweight will also likely result in a high
blood pressure. Both weight and a lack of exercise contribute
to high cholesterol, which in turn boosts blood pressure.
Some other factors that lead to high blood pressure include smoking,
drinking, and excessive use of salt or high sodium products.
Also, most stimulants including caffeine, ephedra, pseudophedrine, and
diet pills will boost your blood pressure, sometimes into dangerous
levels.
If you suspect you have high blood pressure you should see a
doctor. If you’re not sure, you should see a
doctor. Any time you visit a doctor for anything, they
usually take a blood pressure reading, and if they don’t they
should. A doctor can help you determine if you need to be on
blood pressure medication, or if simple lifestyle changes will be
enough to help fight your high blood pressure.
If you already know you have high blood pressure, and have already seen
a doctor about it, you may consider buying your own blood pressure
monitor to keep tabs on your progress. They are available in
electronic form today, are very easy to use, and are a wise investment
for anyone suffering from exceptionally high blood pressure.
››
A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
