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High blood pressure (hypertension)

Hypertension is when your blood pressure frequently goes over 140/90. It is a disorder characterised by chronically high blood pressure and o ccurs when blood is being pumped with more force than usual. This force is transmitted to delicate organs such as the brain and kidneys . Prolonged untreated excessive force can be very damaging if the arteries carrying the blood to these organs are hardened (i.e. furred up with cholesterol deposits), thus transmitting the full pumping force rather than partially absorbing it.

High blood pressure should be monitored, treated and controlled by medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both.

Pre-hypertension is blood pressure readings from 120-139 over 80-89 on most measurements. If you have pre-hypertension, you are likely to develop high blood pressure at some point, unless you make lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure to normal.

High blood pressure can affect all types of people. However many people feel no symptoms with uncomplicated high blood pressure. Essential hypertension (hypertension with no known cause) is not fully understood, but accounts for between 90-95% of all hypertension cases in people over 45 years of age.

About 1 in every 5 adults in the U.K and U.S has high blood pressure. It occurs more often in men than women and in African type races almost twice as often as in Caucasians.

Even though high blood pressure often doesn't have a known cause, it can still be treated effectively with both lifestyle modification and medications. Many people with high blood pressure remain undetected for years, often until it is too late! If you or your relatives have never had their blood pressure checked, perhaps you should suggest it next time a visit is made to your health care provider.

Once high blood pressure is detected and confirmed, treatment is likely to be life-long. Continued regular blood pressure checks are essential even if the blood pressure returns to normal. You should never stop your treatment suddenly without the advice of your health care provider.

Management of this silent yet potentially dangerous condition is a life-long programme of supervision, prevention and protection.

Lifestyle modification include

  • Following a low sodium diet,
  • Exercising,
  • Stop smoking,
  • Losing weight,
  • Avoiding excessive alcohol intake.

Untreated raised blood pressure can

  • Lead to a stroke.
  • Cause the heart to thicken and enlarge
  • Cause the heart muscles to outgrow their own blood supply resulting in angina, heart failure and heart attack.

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