Hypertension can be caused by a pre-existing condition, such as a kidney abnormality or a structural abnormality of the aorta. This type of high blood pressure is known as secondary hypertension because another medical issue was present first.
Symptoms
People may have high blood pressure for years without knowing, due to its lack of early symptoms. One way to find out if you have the disease is to have routine blood pressure checks during visits with your doctor.
The Importance of Treatment
The first and best course of action when high blood pressure is discovered is to change your diet and exercise habits. However, sometimes even when a person makes healthy changes, blood pressure remains high. In those cases, a physician can prescribe a blood pressure medication.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause the serious medical issues, such as:
- • Enlarging of the heart, which can lead to heart failure
- • Aneurysms in the arteries of the heart, brain, legs, intestines or spleen
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which your resting blood pressure is consistently measured at 130/80 or greater. Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Blood pressure is highest when the heart beats (called systolic pressure) and lowest when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). This is why blood pressure is always given as two numbers, such as 120/80, which is considered the normal range.
Once the level reaches 130/80 or above, it is considered high. With this condition, the heart and arteries have to work harder, and the chances of having a stroke, heart attack or kidney problems increases.
Causes and Risk Factors
Research has shown that the following factors put you at a higher risk for developing high blood pressure:
- • Being obese or overweight
- • Being of African descent
- • If male, being over age 45; if female, being over age 55
- • A family history of hypertension
- • Having elevated blood pressure (blood pressure in the 120-129/80 range)
- • Eating an unhealthy diet that is high in sodium and low in potassium
- • Drinking too much alcohol
- • Being physically inactive
- • Smoking and second-hand smoke Read More
