High Blood Pressure - Nearly 1 in 3 American Adults Have It!
INTRODUCTION: High blood pressure aka hypertension means elevated pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily elevate your blood pressure.
Hypertension rarely has any symptoms, but it can create serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.
It forces the heart to work much harder and can damage the arteries, causing them to narrow faster. It can also harm many parts of the body and is a major health problem in the US affecting 1/3 of Americans or 65 million persons, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
HYPERTENSION: Most often referred to as “high blood pressure”, HTN or HPN, is a medical problem in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated and is considered to be present when a person’s systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg or higher, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is continously 90 mmHg or greater.
It can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary and is one of the most common complex disorders, with genetic implication averaging 30%. Hypertension can be a temporary or lifelong disease, depending on the cause and is dangerous because it causes the heart to work extra hard.
Pre-hypertension is blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the pre-hypertension range. If your blood pressure is in the pre-hypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it. If you have this kind of hypertension, you may not need to take medication.
HEART: Some people may not find out they have HBP until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. When it is not found and treated, it can cause the heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. With HBP, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are greater.
If you don’t have hypertension by age 55, you have a 90 % chance of developing it at some point during your life, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. If left untreated, it will cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point at which serious damage can happen. About 1/2 of people having first-time heart attacks and two-thirds of people having first-time strokes suffer from hypertension.
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TREATMENT: Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and lowering blood pressure to normal limits. When you first start treatment, your doctor may want you to come to the office regularly. Your doctor will review the information with you and decide if your treatment program is working or if you need to make changes to it.
Among the 61 percent who are under going treatment, only 35% have their blood pressure adequately controlled. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, see your doctor.
CONCLUSION: High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it often has no symptoms and is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease and stroke. High blood pressure is not evenly spread throughout the population and happens disproportionately more often in minority communities.
High blood pressure rates are also growing among American children, paralleling an epidemic of obesity. Hypertension in grownups will usually be measured on at least two different trips to the doctor before a diagnosis is made. It can be treated by both modifying lifestyles, usually as the first step, and, if necessary, with medications. Diuretics work in the kidney and flush out excess water and sodium from the body.
Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has hypertension. Once It develops, it usually remains for the rest of your lifetime. Fortunately, it can be easily detected, and once you know you have it, you can work with your physician to control it.
