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Hypertension
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High blood pressure (Hypertension) is often called the silent killer. For the most part, it exists without symptoms. However, when blood pressure is elevated for long periods of time there is a higher incidence of heart attacks, congestive heart failure, strokes, kidney disease and eye disease. It is important to have a relationship with a physician in which blood pressure can be measured on a regular basis and, if blood pressure starts to rise, interventions can be undertaken to prevent complications of high blood pressure. There are many ways to treat hypertension including diet and exercise. However, once medical therapy is elected, there are numerous groups of medications which can be used to lower blood pressure.
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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition that affects 50 million Americans -- one in four adults. It is defined as an average systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg, a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mm Hg, or both. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the first and third most common causes of death among Americans. In the early and middle adult years, men are more likely than women to develop the condition, but as men and women age, the reverse is true -- more women older than the age of 55 have high blood pressure than men of the same age. While hypertension generally develops in people older than 20 years of age, more than half of all Americans over the age of 65 have the condition.
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Hypertension has its worst effects on the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, hemorrhages of the retina of the eye, and generalized atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries all over the body).
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(PRWEB) December 29, 2005 -- Hypertension or high blood pressure is fast becoming a great concern for society. When most people are initially told they have high blood pressure, it comes as quite a shock. Part of the problem is that it has no early symptoms. Most people feel good and do not notice any problems. Yes, you may be a little unfit and you could eat better, but generally you feel fine.
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Hypertension can be treated. Mild cases of hypertension can be treated through behavior modification like changing diet and increasing exercise. More severe cases of hypertension require medications like diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers. Each type of chemical works differently in an attempt to bring blood pressure back into a normal range. For example, diuretics rid the body of excess fluids and salt while beta blockers reduce the heart rate and the heart's output of blood.
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Hypertension is classified as either primary (or essential) hypertension or secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension has no specific origin but is strongly associated with lifestyle. It is responsible for 90 to 95 percent of diagnosed hypertension and is treated with stress management, changes in diet, increased physical activity, and medication (if needed). Secondary hypertension is responsible for 5 to 10 percent of diagnosed hypertension. It is caused by a preexisting medical condition such as congestive heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, or damage to the endocrine (hormone) system.
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