 |
print the page |  |
email the page |  |
|
- What is high blood pressure?
- Symptoms of high blood pressure
- Causes of high blood pressure
- Prevention of high blood pressure
- Risk factors for high blood pressure
- Complications of high blood pressure
- When to see a doctor about high blood pressure
- Diagnosis of high blood pressure
- Conventional treatment of high blood pressure
- Alternative/complementary treatment of high blood pressure
- Living with high blood pressure
- Caregiving for someone with high blood pressure
Blood pressure is the force that is exerted against the walls of the arteries by the blood when is pumped though by the heart. Blood pressure is at its highest when the heart pumps the blood and is at its lowest when the heart rests between beats.
High blood pressure is defined as the heart pumping blood with extra force/pressure on each beat and even when the heart rests, the pressure is still too high. High blood pressure puts a lot of strain on the heart as is pumps blood too hard through the arteries. It can lead to a variety of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
High blood pressure is defined as being higher than the highest figures below (for each of systolic and diastolic pressures):
- Systolic - heart beat pressure
- Normal is 90-120mmHg
- Diastolic - resting rate between heart beats
- Normal is 60-80mmH
Advertisement
Some facts about high blood pressure
- High blood pressure is know as the "silent killer" as it often presents with no symptoms prior to a person having a heart attack or stroke
- High blood pressure leads to a higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke and kidney disease
- Women taking the contraceptive pill can develop high blood pressure, which is reversible when the use of the birth control pills are discontinued
- Women who are pregnant can experience high blood pressure associated with a condition called pre-eclampsia, which is rare, but serious and only occurs towards the end of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia can endanger the life of not just the unborn baby but the mother too
- High blood pressure can result from having a brain tumour as it can cause increased blood pressure in the brain
- Higher than normal blood pressure can occur directly after surgery, which can be relieved through medication
- Illegal street drugs, such as methamphetamine, speed and cocaine can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure and continued use of these illegal drugs may lead to kidney and other organ damage, as well as more severe hypertension
- A recent study showed that there is link between high blood pressure and distinct memory problems
Advertisement
Sections: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
2:symptoms of hypertension >
