High Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure and when is it high?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is condition where there is an elevation of the normal amount of pressure the blood cells place against the walls of the blood vessels. The normal amount of blood pressure is rated to be below 140/90-this is said "140 over 90"-but your doctor may determine a more specific range for your needs. These two numbers are the measurements of pressure at different times. The first number is a measurement of the blood pressure while the heart is pumping. This is called systolic blood pressure. The second number, or diastolic blood pressure, is the blood pressure while the heart is at rest or in between beats.

What causes high blood pressure?

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

There are several factors that can come into play to make you have higher blood pressure than what you should. Figure 1 depicts what the artery is experiencing when your blood pressure is as it should be. However, when high blood pressure occcurs, these pressures are exerting too much force on the walls of the blood vessels. For various reasons, your blood vessels can become tight and constricted as you can see in figure 2. This is one of the possible reasons for having high blood pressure. The same amount of blood has to pass through the vesssel even if the vessel becomes smaller. This is what makes the blood pressure climb. Arteriosclerosis, also called the "hardening of the arteries", can also contribute to high blood pressure, as seen in figure 3. Over time, fatty deposits can build up along the walls of arteries and harden them. This hardening makes it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for the vessel to stretch and expand as it would normally. This lack of flexibility, or "hardening", is caused when enough debris and fats collect on the inner lining of the vessel. As this sticky residue begins to harden, it binds so tightly to the artery that the artery hardens with it. The heart then works even harder to pump blood through these narrow hardened arteries.

Why is high blood pressure bad for me?

When blood pressure remains too high for a period of time it can cause damage to serveral parts of your body. Hypertension can lead to heart attack, eye damage, stroke, kidney failure, and peripheral artery disease. Some of the factors which can cause high blood pressure include:

Smoking: it damages your blood vessels and it is also a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease.
Being Overweight: check with your physician to determine the proper weight for your body frame and height. Loosing excess pounds may help to lower your blood pressure. Follow a heart healthy diet and watch the labels on what you eat. Do not use excess salt or fats in your diet.
Lack of Exercise: regular exercise is beneficial because it makes your heart and blood vessels work more effectively. Be sure you check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Stress: try to avoid stressful situations because stress can elevate your blood pressure.
Alcohol: consuming alcohol should be very limited in your diet.
Heredity: although you cannot control the particular traits that you inherit from your parents, a family history of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, or diabetes can put you at risk for similar cardiovascular problems.
Race: again, it is something that a person cannot help, but studies show that there is a higher incidence of high blood pressure among African-Americans.
Gender: it seems that males seem to develop high blood pressure more often than women.
Age: the likelihood of high blood pressure increases with age.
ALWAYS remember to take any prescribed medication to aid in lowering your blood pressure. If you ever have any questions be sure to consult with you health care professional.