What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure governs the force in which blood flows through your arteries. The arm in which you measure your blood pressure is called an artery. It is responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.



What do blood pressure numbers mean?

There are two numbers that help to measure the amount of pressure against an artery wall. The first is called “diastolic pressure” and it measures your blood pressure when your heart muscle relaxes. The second is called “systolic pressure” and this number means blood pressure when the heart muscle contracts or actively pumps. Both numbers combined, for example 120 over 80 (120/80 mmHg) mean there is 120 mmHg of systolic pressure for every 80 mmHg diastolic pressure found in an artery wall during each beat of the heart.



What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?

Having a high blood pressure reading is important for many reasons. For one thing, you might not have been aware that your blood pressure was too high. From the outside, people with hypertension may appear to be perfectly healthy and at no greater risk than anyone else of an early death from a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke. In reality, though, hypertension can double your chances of dying prematurely from a host of conditions including heart disease and stroke – the two most common causes of death in the western world. You can learn more about this issue at https://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/High-Blood-Pressure .

What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, but it can have some dangerous implications on your health. Ideally, you should have it checked every year to ensure that nothing has gone wrong with your physical and mental well-being. Getting a check-up a minimum of once a year is very important as it may allow you to detect other problems that could be developing for example diabetes which will make the body lose control over its blood sugar. It is very important to know what kind of lifestyle changes you should make if high blood pressure does happen to seep into your life. By getting the right advice from a professional, you can better prevent complications from taking place further down the line.



What causes high blood pressure?

High blood pressure develops over a period of time and is mainly caused by unhealthy habits. For example, if a person does not get enough physical exercise on a regular basis, they put themselves at risk for eventual high blood pressure. Risk factors such as having diabetes or obesity can also increase one's chances of developing high blood pressure. In addition pregnant women who have high blood pressure should consult their doctor because this could pose a threat to their unborn child.

What problems does high blood pressure cause?

High blood pressure can be both uncomfortable and dangerous! It can seriously hurt important organs like your heart, brain, liver, kidneys, bladder and eyes. The good news is that it's very easy to take care of high blood pressure to decrease your chances for illness or disease.



Heart Attack and Heart Disease

High blood pressure not only damages your arteries over time, but also impairs elasticity of arteries. This impairs flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. 

Stroke and Brain Problems

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause irreparable harm to the body - including damage to the brain. People who have high blood pressure are at a higher risk of having a stroke. If a stroke does occur, chances are that you will be forced into a state of paralysis and suffer from other symptoms such as hallucinations. Strokes can also lead to your death if not treated immediately after they occur. A leading cause of strokes is high blood pressure, so it’s best not to take any risks with this dangerous condition. One way to avoid strokes is by taking medication that helps control high blood pressure yet another reason for you to always remember that your health is in your own hands.





Kidney Disease

People with chronic conditions who are also taking medication to control them, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are at a higher risk of developing kidney disease than those without these conditions. A study released this week suggests that they should be screened more regularly for the condition.

How do I know if I have high blood pressure?

If you feel like there are too many things happening in this busy world, you are not alone. There are challenges that are related to having a lot on your plate which can be quite challenging for everyone involved. Figuring out exactly what is bringing about certain challenges in our lives often only serves to make things more complicated because it makes us feel more frustrated, irritated and exhausted by the day. The most we can do is try our level best to remain as relaxed as we possibly can so we won't lose focus and eventually break down under all of the pressure we find ourselves under!



What can I do to prevent or manage high blood pressure?

If you have high blood pressure, or even if your blood pressure has never been officially diagnosed as high, there are easy ways to start protecting yourself against heart disease. If you want to lower your blood pressure into a healthier range, 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week is strongly recommended. You don't need to run marathons or even spend hours at the gym - washing dishes and folding laundry will do just fine! Find activities that give you strength like weight lifting, yoga, biking and swimming - these are good for carrying out with friends during your free time. Your heart will thank you for all the impacts it's receiving; not only will this help keep your blood pressure in check but it can also reduce stress since exercise is also known to effectively help reduce stress levels.