|
|
HypertensionDefinition Hypertension means high blood pressure. This generally means:
Either or both of these numbers may be too high. Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are likely to develop high blood pressure at some point. Therefore, your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to normal range. Causes, incidence, and risk factors Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped by the heart, and the size and condition of the arteries. Many other factors can affect blood pressure, including volume of water in the body; salt content of the body; condition of the kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels; and levels of various hormones in the body. Essential hypertension has no identifiable cause. It may be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or even diet, such as how much salt you use. "Secondary" hypertension is high blood pressure caused by another disorder. This may include:
Symptoms Usually, no symptoms are present. Occasionally, you may experience a mild headache. If your headache is severe, or if you experience any of the symptoms below, you must be seen by a doctor right away. These may be a sign of dangerously high blood pressure (called malignant hypertension) or a complication from high blood pressure.
Signs and tests Hypertension may be suspected when the blood pressure is high at any single measurement. It is confirmed through blood pressure measurements that are repeated over time. Blood pressure consistently elevated over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic is called hypertension. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body. Systolic blood pressure consistently between 130 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure consistently between 80 and 89 is called pre-hypertension. Your doctor will recommend and encourage lifestyle changes including weight loss, exercise, and nutritional changes. Tests for suspected causes and complications may be performed. These are guided by the symptoms presented, history, and results of examination. Treatment The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure to a level where there is decreased risk of complications. Treatment may occur at home with close supervision by the health care provider, or may occur in the hospital. Medications may include diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or alpha blockers. Medications such as hydralazine, minoxidil, diazoxide, or nitroprusside may be required if the blood pressure is very high. Have your blood pressure checked at regular intervals (as often as recommended by your doctor.) Lifestyle changes may reduce high blood pressure, including weight loss, exercise, and dietary adjustments (see "Prevention"). Expectations (prognosis) Hypertension is controllable with treatment. It requires lifelong monitoring, and the treatment may require adjustments periodically. Complications
Calling your health care provider Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to have your blood pressure checked at annual exams, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure in your family. If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor. In between appointments, if you have any of the symptoms listed below or your blood pressure remains high even with treatment (this assumes the use of a home blood pressure monitor), then call your doctor right away.
Prevention Lifestyle changes may help control high blood pressure:
Follow your health care provider's recommendations to modify, treat, or control possible causes of secondary hypertension. References Wang Y, Wang QJ. The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among US adults according to the new joint national committee guidelines: new challenges of the old problem. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(19):2126-34. Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). Rockville, Md. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US Department of Health and Human Services; August 2004. National Institutes of Health Publication No. 04-5230. Eyre H, Kahn R, Robertson RM, et al. Preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes: A common agenda for the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2004;109(25):3244-55. Whelton PK, He J, Appel LJ, et al. Primary prevention of hypertension: Clinical and public health advisory from The National High Blood Pressure Education Program. JAMA. 2002;288(15):1882-8. Illustrations
Page Content: High blood pressure ; blood high pressure; blood high pressure symptom; blood high pressure treatment; blood cause high pressure; blood diet high pressure; blood high medication pressure; blood high medicine pressure; blood cure high pressure; blood high pressure sign; blood high natural pressure remedy; blood control high pressure; blood diet dietpoundsaway.com high pressure; blood high lower pressure; blood herb high pressure; blood high pregnancy pressure; blood high information pressure; blood cure high natural pressure; blood drug high pressure; blood high pressure remedy; blood headache high pressure; alcohol blood high pressure; blood controlling high pressure; blood high lowering pressure; blood exercise high pressure; blood high pressure reading; blood high pressure reduce; blood effects high pressure; blood high hypertension pressure symptom; acupuncture blood high pressure; blood diabetes high pressure; blood high home pressure remedy; blood food high pressure; alternative blood high medicine pressure; blood chart high pressure; blood herbal high pressure remedy; blood during high pregnancy pressure; blood high low pressure; blood high pressure treating; anxiety blood high pressure; blood high pressure recipe; blood high pressure treat; blood high natural pressure treatment; blood effects high pressure side; blood high hypertension pressure; blood high in pregnancy pressure; blood high pill pressure; blood high pressure sign symptom; blood diastolic high pressure; blood high pressure reducing; blood high pressure stress; blood high in pressure woman; blood cholesterol high pressure; blood considered high pressure; blood health high pressure; blood high pressure salt; blood high monitor pressure; blood dangerously high pressure; blood high physical pressure symptom; blood high number pressure; blood caffeine high pressure; blood high low pressure pulse; blood high pressure prevent; blood high meds pressure; blood high pressure systolic; blood high medication name pressure; blood effects high medication pressure side; blood dangerous high pressure; blood child high in pressure; blood high pressure stroke; blood high low pressure pulse rate; blood high pressure smoking; blood high kidney pressure; blood high lower naturally pressure; avoid blood food high pressure; blood high pressure reduce ways; blood help high pressure; blood heart high low pressure rate; blood high impotence pressure; blood high pressure prevention; blood high pressure sign warning; blood effects high medicine pressure side; blood fact high pressure; blood high pressure vitamin; blood garlic high pressure; blood herbal high pressure; blood high managing pressure; aspirin blood high pressure; blood high potassium pressure; blood coffee high pressure; blood definition high pressure; blood high menopause pressure; blood high pressure reason; blood herbal high medicine pressure; blood dizziness high pressure; blood food high lower pressure that; blood diet high pill pressure; blood high pressure uk; blood cause high pressure smoking; blood high pressure study; blood high pressure preventing |
   |
