Heart Health: Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood, pressure affects one third of the world’s population. A quarter of those being treated don’t have their blood pressure under control with the use of their medications.

Blood pressure is the force that blood overcomes when it is being squeezed and release (pumped) through the body. High blood pressure or, hypertension, is when constricted arterial blood vessels increase the resistance to blood flow. This condition is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder. Left unchecked, this condition can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, heart failure.

Blood pressure is measured by two numbers representing the constriction and relaxation of the blood vessels. These are the systolic (vessel constriction- top number) and diastolic (vessel relaxation- bottom number). The ideal measurement is a blood pressure under 140/70.

Although genetics is a risk factor, must risk are behavioral; thus, preventable. The preventable causes- and must common- are; smoking, obesity, lack of activity, alcohol and high salt diets. Other factors that predispose certain people to the risk of hypertension include; stress, diabetes and kidney disease.

A lot of people live with hypertension and don’t know it. Ignorance of the condition does not help. You should have your blood pressure assessed often and with gain n age this becomes more pertinent.

Some common symptoms are; severe headache, fatigue, chest pain, blood in urine and vision problems to name a few. These symptoms however, occur late and you should not wait for their presentation as a cue to seek medical help. Remember, a person with hypertension is 4 times as likely to have a stroke, than some one with normal blood pressure.

African Americans and those with a family history of hypertension should make it a point to see their family doctor. Hypertension can show at any adult age, and ultimately can be put under control.