Hypertension and Numbers?
On many occasion physician, nurses and other healthcare professionals are asked the question “What do these numbers mean?” when reading blood pressure. The numbers represent systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is known as the amount of pressure that blood exerts on arteries and vessels while the heart is beating and Diastolic pressure is known as the pressure that is exerted on the walls of the various arteries around the body in between heart beats when the heart is relaxed. An average healthy American adult will have a blood pressure of about 120/80. The systolic pressure would be the 120 and the diastolic pressure would be the 80. Therefore an average healthy person would have an amount of 120 pressure of blood being exerted on arteries while the heart is beating and an amount of 80 pressure of blood being exerted on the arteries when the heart is relaxed.
Hypertension is a condition in which the arteries have persistently elevated blood pressure. If you have a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher it is likely that are hypertensive. Hypertension may be classified as essential or secondary. Essential hypertension is the term for high blood pressure with unknown causes. This is the most common type of hypertension. While, secondary hypertension is the term for high blood pressure with a known direct cause, such as kidney disease, tumors, or birth control pills.
Factors that are associated with hypertension include:
- High levels of salt intake or sodium sensitivity
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Genetics- according to scientists from the University of Leicester, England May 2011, they, reported in the journal Hypertension that some genes in the kidneys may contribute to hypertension.
- Obesity or being overweight.
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Lack of physical exercise
- Aging
- Stress
- Diabetes
- Birth controls
- Smoking
- Insufficient calcium, potassium, and magnesium consumption
- High levels of alcohol consumption
- Chronic kidney disease
- Adrenal and thyroid problems or tumors
Symptoms:
Having hypertension does not mean that one has to have definite symptoms. Persons can be hypertensive without any definite symptoms that is why getting regular blood pressure checks is essential for healthcare.
However severe hypertension includes the following symptoms:
- Severe headaches
- Fatigue or confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Problems with vision
- Chest pains
- Breathing problems
- Irregular heartbeat
- Blood in the urine
If you are experiencing any of the following or may have any concern about hypertension it is recommended that you talk with your primary care physician as soon as possible.
Reference:
Systolic vs Diastolic Blood Pressure
What Is Hypertension? What Causes Hypertension?
McGraw-hill, Inc. Copyright 1992
