High Blood Pressure Causes in Men and Women

High Blood Pressure Causes in Men and Women

High blood pressure which is otherwise known as hypertension affects millions of people worldwide, it is predominantly found in adults but in modern day society it is sadly becoming more and more common in children.

High blood pressure is often known as the silent disease because most of us don't realize we are suffering from it; it's often only when you go for a check-up with your health care provider that it's realized you have a problem and need treatment.

Many people think having high blood pressure is no big deal when in fact it can cause you very serious harm if it's not treated early enough. Just because you're not displaying any symptoms doesn't mean it isn't causing damage to your body. High blood pressure left untreated can cause multiple health problems such as heart disease or stroke which can be very serious if left unchecked. It's very important to have your blood pressure checked by a competent person on a regular basis especially if you are over the age of 40 or you have a family history of high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is more common in men than woman and it becomes more prevalent as you get older, so if you're over the age of 65 then the chances you have high blood pressure are fairly high. High blood pressure also tends to run in families, so if a close relative suffers then it's possible you will also be affected.

So what is considered a high blood pressure?

If your blood pressure is above 140/90 consistently over a six month period then it is considered high enough to require treatment. The top number is known as the systolic pressure and the lower number is known as the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the blood being forced through the arteries via the heart as it beats while the diastolic pressure is when the heart relaxes between beats.

High blood pressure can have devastating consequences if left untreated over a long period of time. The increased need for oxygen makes the heart work much harder than it should be doing, it can cause the walls of the arteries to harden and eventually the heart is put under so much strain it weakens and is susceptible to disease.

Types of Hypertension

* Primary hypertension is where there is no identifiable cause for your rise in blood pressure

* Secondary hypertension is when another source is responsible for your high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension can be caused by a diseased organ or as a result of a disease such as diabetes. If you have a kidney disorder you are prone to developing high blood pressure as kidney function is aligned with blood pressure.

* Malignant hypertension is a very severe form of high blood pressure where the readings are very often both above 200. This type of high blood pressure affects 1in 200 people who suffer from hypertension and is difficult to treat. Unfortunately the body cannot sustain a blood pressure this high for too long and the condition often proves to be fatal within months.

* High cholesterol levels are another leading cause of high blood pressure. When your cholesterol is high the arteries in the body become narrowed this means the heart has to work harder to push the blood through. Working the heart too hard can eventually lead to it failing.

* Smoking is a classic cause for high blood pressure. Smoking harms the walls of your arteries and helps speed up hardening thus making it more difficult for the heart to work correctly. If you smoke, it's never too late to stop.

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