HOW TO REDUCE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is chronically elevated. While it is formally called arterial hypertension, the word "hypertension" without a qualifier usually refers to arterial hypertension.
Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks,
heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal
failure.
Definition
Blood pressure is a continuous variable, and risks of various adverse outcomes
rise with it. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension is usually
diagnosed on finding blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg measured on both arms on
three occasions over a few weeks. Recently, the JNC VII (The Seventh Report of
the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment
of High Blood Pressure) has defined blood pressure over 120/80 mmHg and below
140/90 mmHg as "pre-hypertension". "Prehypertension is not a disease category.
Rather, it is a designation chosen to identify individuals at high risk of
developing hypertension (JNC VII)."
In patients with diabetes mellitus or kidney disease studies have shown that
blood pressure over 130/80 mmHg should be considered a risk factor and may
warrant treatment.
Etiology
Essential hypertension
Age. Over time, the number of collagen fibres in artery and arteriole walls
increases, making blood vessels stiffer. With the reduced elasticity comes a
smaller cross-sectional area in systole, and so a raised mean arterial blood
pressure.
High salt intake
Sedentary lifestyle
Tobacco smoking
Alcohol abuse
High levels of saturated fat in the diet
Obesity. In obese subjects, losing a pound in weight generally reduces blood
pressure by 1mmHg.
Stress
Low birth-weight
Diabetes mellitus
Various genetic causes
Inessential hypertension
More Books on How to Lower Blood Pressure
Kidney disease or renal artery stenosis
Certain cancers
Drugs. In particular, alcohol, nasal congestants with adrenergic effects, NSAIDs, MAOIs, adrenoceptor stimulants, and the contraceptive pill (ethinyl-estradiol) can cause hypertension while in use.
Malformed aorta
Slow pulse
Anemia
Fever
Aortic valve disease
The source of this article is Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL
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