Understanding High Blood Pressure

Understanding High Blood Pressure

Understanding High Blood Pressure

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition of the heart that can cause many problems. Some people believe that hypertension is caused by people who are hyperactive, stressed or nervous. However, anyone can get high blood pressure. In order to deal with high blood pressure both for yourself and your loved ones, you need to understand more about this serious medical condition.High blood pressure can work within your body for years, causing damage to your heart and symptoms that may seem hard to understand. Healthy arteries are strong flexible and elastic. With their smooth inner lining, they allow blood to flow freely so organs and tissues can receive the needed nutrients and oxygen. The term high blood pressure is when the amount of pressure on the blood that flows is too high. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis can both be results of this increase in blood pressure. The inner lining of the walls of the arteries become damaged, resulting in the condition called arteriosclerosis. Too much fat in the diet can then pass through these damaged arteries and begin collecting, which causes arteriosclerosis. Blood flow can now get blocked causing damage to the kidneys, heart, arms, legs and brain. In time, this can cause serious problems such as a stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, heart attack or an aneurysm.When a weakened artery becomes enlarged and forms a bulge, an aneurysm occurs. Should the pressure continue, the aneurysm or bulge can then erupt which can result in internal bleeding that can be life-threatening. Aneurysms usually occur in the aorta, the largest artery in the body.Besides these life threatening illnesses, the heart can be severely damaged if high blood pressure is present for very long. For example, when atherosclerosis occurs and the blood flow becomes blocked in the arteries, it is very possible to experience chest pain, irregular heart rhythms or even a heart attack. When people with high blood pressure have a heart attack, they are more likely to die because their blood pressure is not high enough after the attack. Due to the hard work that is required of the heart, hypertension can cause damage to the left ventricle. The ventricle's ability to pump blood into the body will then be limited. Heart attack, sudden cardiac death or heart failure can then result. The stress from high blood pressure over time begins to strain the heart. Slowly, the heart will begin to weaken and not function properly. Eventually, the heart will simply wear out and no longer be able to work as it should, even stopping, resulting in cardiac death. This will happen even sooner if the heart is damaged.Other parts of the body, including the brain, can be damaged by hypertension. Because the brain depends on the heart for a nourishing blood supply, when the supply is diminished, the brain will suffer. This can result in many conditions. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ministroke is one such problem that can result. This can occur when there is not a proper blood supply to the brain. This is often caused by either atherosclerosis or a blood clot, both of which can be caused by hypertension. A TIA is often a warning that a regular stroke is imminent. Another condition that can occur due to hypertension is a stroke, which is a direct result of the brain being deprived of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Strokes can occur when blood clots form in the arteries leading to the brain. An aneurysm in the brain may occur when a bulge in a blood vessel wall, resulting in bleeding in the brain, which can be life-threatening.Hypertension can also cause dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Reasoning, memory, vision, thinking, and movement are all handled by the brain. All of these things can be affected if they do not receive the proper supply of blood. Even Alzheimer's disease can occur because of the affect on memory and understanding.Besides these important conditions, damage can occur in the kidneys due to the decreasing flow of blood to the kidneys. This can result in kidney failure, kidney scarring or kidney artery aneurysm. The blood vessels to the eyes can be affected, resulting in impaired vision. Sexual dysfunction, bone loss and insomnia are other areas that can be directly linked to high blood pressure. There are things that can be done to both prevents and stop hypertension. A healthy diet, exercise and a low salt diet can help. Blood pressure medications such as carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide have been helpful as well. Most importantly, get the hypertension under control as soon as possible. Do whatever you must to get the blood pressure down to a healthy level. Changing your lifestyle, following your doctor's orders and taking your medication will soon eliminate hypertension and put you on the track to a long successful life.

POST COMMENT

Hints In Picking Out Good Upper Back Pain Treatment How A Total Detox Benefits Your Health Juicing For Optimum Health Elderly Health Care Needs Nowadays Are A Lot Different Than A Century Ago Give Noni: Healthy and Unusual Holiday Gift Ideas Quick Healthy Cooking Tips Control Excessive Sweating Tips Stretch Mark Removal For Healthier, Better Looking Skin Suggestions For Making the most of Your Hot Tub Spa in Winter The Best Type of Beds For Back Pain Electronic Cigarette Safer Way Of Smoke Free Smoking What Are The Symptoms Of Hiv Kidney Stones And How To Get Rid Of Kidney Stones Naturally And Easily