Login using your social network account
Login directly with The Independent
Want to ad-free experience? Subscribe to Independent Premium.
High blood pressure is common, mostly without symptoms, and potentially lethal. Known as the silent killer, it is the direct cause of over 100,000 strokes each year (two-thirds of the total). It also increases the risk of heart disease, kidney problems and blindness. A quarter of adults have high blood pressure, and among those over 60 the proportion rose half. But many people do not know they have it. An estimated 18 percent of men and 13 percent of women with high blood pressure do not receive treatment that could protect them from premature death.
High blood pressure is not just a problem for older people. Blood pressure can be increased at any age. One in 10 men aged 25-34 have high blood pressure compared to about two in five men aged 35-44, according to the Blood Pressure Association. Fewer women are affected at a young age, but one of the 10 women in their twenties are affected.
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
Have been thinking about the blood pressure change?
Dramatically. The old view is that high blood pressure in the elderly is required to pump blood through the arteries hairy, which has been narrowed by fatty deposits. In 1930 there was a big controversy over whether it would be safe to try to lower blood pressure. When the first trials of blood pressure-lowering drugs conducted in 1960, only patients with extreme pressure put into them, because what is considered a risk. The results showed rapid and decisive that the pressure saves lives.
Is the problem worse?
Yes - because of our aging population and our arteries get stiffer with age. modern Western lifestyle also makes high blood pressure is becoming more common. It is almost unknown in parts of the world such as in rural Africa, where factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, excess salt and too little fruit and vegetables does not apply. This is so even though Africa has an underlying genetic predisposition to high blood pressure. The problem is now so widespread in the West, with half of the sixties are affected, that high blood pressure has come to represent normality.
What is high blood pressure?
As the heart pumps blood throughout the body of the pressure on the artery walls. If you have high blood pressure, it means your heart has to work harder to pump blood. It can weaken the heart or damage the walls of arteries, causing blockage or rupture of the wall (hemorrhage). High blood pressure is defined as the sustained pressure of 140 / 90mm Hg or more.
What does it mean? pressure
blood is measured in millimeters of mercury (Hg). Two measures were used to record the maximum and minimum pressure during a single beat of the heart. The first number - 140 - is called the systolic pressure, which is the maximum pressure as the heart contracts, pumping blood throughout the body. The second figure - 90 -. Is the diastolic pressure, or minimum pressure as the heart relaxes when the ventricles (chambers) of the heart to fill with blood before the pump again
Is the blood pressure normal?
Figures consistently below 120 / 80mm Hg is considered as an ideal. Any reading in the range of 90/60 to 140/90 would be considered good in most people. However, the level of blood pressure of 135 over 85 (135/85) may be "normal", but someone with this reading were twice as likely to experience a heart attack or stroke as someone with a reading of 115 over 75 (115/75). As a general rule, lower your blood pressure better, although not to be so low that you are experiencing symptoms like fainting when you stand up because the heart had difficulty pumping blood to your brain.
what causes high blood pressure?
In most cases there is no single cause. But lifestyle plays a part. poor diet, lack of exercise, being overweight, excessive drinking and stress all increase the likelihood of high blood pressure. Many people can lower their blood pressure to resolve this issue. For example, too much salt increases blood pressure, so it is best to eat as little as possible. Some people may be able to avoid taking drugs that lower blood pressure by reducing salt. But genetics,also plays a part - high blood pressure runs in the family. People from the community of Afro-Caribbean and South Asia are at greater risk - and blood pressure increases with age
. It can cause symptoms?
Yes, but rarely - in blood pressure when a person has very high. Symptoms can include headache, blurred vision, nosebleeds and shortness of breath. Get an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience this. Adults over 40 should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years, and more often if there are risk factors such as family history of heart disease.
What happens when high blood pressure is diagnosed?
Your doctor will first explore if there are changes you can make your lifestyle which may reduce the pressure. The most important thing is keeping to a healthy weight, eat more fruits and vegetables, reducing salt, take more exercise and drinking less alcohol. You could also try yoga or meditation to reduce stress. If this fails, or if you have a healthy lifestyle, then your doctor may recommend drug therapy.
What is "white coat effect"?
High blood pressure can not be diagnosed from a single reading because it can vary - a series of readings is required. Many people find their blood pressure rises when it is being measured by their doctor (with or without a white coat) and this has to doubt the accuracy of these readings. The best measure is to read 24 hours, which can be obtained by using a monitor that automatically record blood pressure every half hour throughout the day.
High blood pressure can occasionally be a risk too?
The conventional thinking is that high blood pressure and damage sustained is what needs to be controlled. But three studies published in The Lancet in March doubt this view. They found that patients with the highest variation in blood pressure rose to 12 times more likely to have a stroke compared with a little variation. Approximately half of all patients with high blood pressure have readings between visits to the measurement variable. The leader of the British Hypertension Society and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is considering what impact, if any, it should have guidelines concerning the management of high blood pressure.
What should you do if pregnant?
Have your blood pressure checked regularly, even if it is not high, because pregnancy can increase blood pressure in some women. That way you will get a warning if you are developing pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can lead to pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that affects the placenta, and can threaten the life of mother and baby. About 6 to 8 percent of pregnancies are affected by high blood pressure problems. older mothers and those who are carrying twins or triplets are at a higher risk.
Which is the best medicine to lower blood pressure?
Everyone is different - there is no cure "the best". If you can not reduce your blood pressure by other means, then drug treatment may be necessary. High blood pressure can not be "cured" so it would probably mean taking pills for the rest of your life. Where you take is partly a matter of trial and error. What works well for one person may not work for another. For many people, one of the drugs alone will not be enough pressure lowering them -. The two drugs together can work in synergy, provide a greater effect than the sum of their effects when administered alone
How do I choose the drug taking?
Each type of medicine works in different ways. People under 55 tend to respond better to drugs called ACE inhibitors, which relax and dilate the arteries, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. Those over 55 tend to be better on calcium channel blockers, which lower pressure by blocking the effects of calcium, which is used by the body to narrow the blood vessels. Such as ACE inhibitors, they relax and expand the arteries, but through a different mechanism. Many patients require both types of drugs.
How the side effects?
This is a very safe drug that has been used for decades - so long that they are out of patent (and hence relatively cheap for the NHS). The most common side effect of ACE inhibitors is a dry cough. If this becomes bothersome, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which works the same way but it seems to have no side effects can be prescribed. calcium channel blockers can cause swellingankle. Diuretics, which are sometimes called water tablets, are also widely prescribed for blood pressure. They act on the kidneys to increase the amount of salt and water that they extract from the blood, increasing the amount of urine. Too much salt can cause extra fluid to build up in the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure. Diuretics can mean you have to urinate more, so they are best taken in the morning, to avoid having to get up at night to go to the toilet.
Can blood pressure is too low?
Typically, lowering your blood pressure healthy. But if it is too low (less than 90/60) You may experience symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, palpitations, nausea and general weakness. Some people feel dizzy on standing and this is known as postural hypotension, if your blood pressure drops as a result of sudden changes in motion. It usually takes only a few minutes. Some drugs, such as beta-blockers, alpha blockers and antidepressants can cause this. Generally, you only need treatment to lower blood pressure if you have symptoms that worry you. Your GP will then try to find the cause of your low blood pressure.
Inspired by the lifestyle trends latest
Register with your social accounts or to log
You can find our Community Guidelines full
Create commented name to join the debate
you can find our full Community Guidelines
Enter your e-mail to follow new comments on this article.
Are you sure you want to send this voice?
Are you sure you want to flag this comment as inappropriate?
Want to discuss real-world problems, get involved in a discussion of the most exciting and heard from journalists? Start your subscription today Independent Premium.
Are you sure you want to flag this comment as inappropriate?
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
independently Premium Comments can be posted by a member of our membership scheme, independent Premium. This allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our reporters will try to respond by joining the yarn when they could to make independent Premium real meeting. The most insightful commentary on all subjects will be published every day in a special article. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies Your comments.
Open comments thread that there will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe Independent Premium. Because of the scale of the community's comments, we can not provide any post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area for the benefit of open debate. Please continue to honor all the commentators and creating a constructive debate.
Posting Komentar
Posting Komentar