subject: Hypertension in Aging Women [print this page] Hypertension or high blood pressure is the condition in which a person's blood pressure increases to a much higher level than the one that is considered to be normal.
Ideally, the blood pressure level should not exceed that of 120/80. When it begins to rise up and reaches above 140/90, a number of symptoms start becoming noticeable, which include feeling light-headed, not being to see properly due to blurred vision, difficulty in breathing and low levels of energy in the muscles creating problems in walking.
According to statistics, half of the women who exceed fifty years of age acquire hypertension. However, men who are in the age group of 55 are more likely to have it than women. Hypertension is known to be one cause in every three cases of death in women.
Birth control pills and being overweight increase this risk in women, as compared to those who do not take any such pills.
During pregnancy, a high number of women start facing the condition of hypertension, even if they have not been suffering from it earlier. If this is not treated on time, it may create problems in the future, when their age advances. For example, stroke is one highly common illness in women who are suffering from hypertension. In case the condition becomes worse, maternal deaths may also happen.
Thus, it is highly essential to keep a regular check on the level of blood pressure, especially during pregnancy. If it rises too high, various complications such as excessive bleeding during delivery and a difficult time during labor may occur. In such a case, a doctor's help should be taken without any delay.
To control one's high blood pressure, steps such as doing regular exercise, walk and aerobics may be helpful. The quantity of salt in one's diet should be reduced, too.
