High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious problem for a lot of people.  It is especially common in the United States, in people who are 10 or more pounds overweight, and in people 50 and older.  However, a plenty of young and otherwise healthy people also suffer from high blood pressure.  Because having a high blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and strokes, it is not to be taken lightly.

Blood pressure is measured by two different numbers, the first is your ‘systolic’ pressure, and the second is your ‘diastolic’ pressure.  Systolic represents your blood pressure during the period of ventricular contraction in your heart, and diastolic pressure represents your blood pressure when the atria are contracting and the ventricles are filling up.  Because the ventricles are the larger and more muscular heart chambers, the systolic reading is always higher than the diastolic. 

Blood pressure readings are given as systolic over diastolic.  An example would be 120 over 80, which is considered to be a textbook standard for healthy blood pressure.  Systolic readings from 100 to 140 and diastolic readings of between 70 and 90 are considered the normal range.  A systolic pressure of more than 140, a diastolic higher than 90, or both is considered high blood pressure. 

A number of different factors can contribute to high blood pressure.  First of all, an inactive, sedentary lifestyle greatly increases you likelihood of developing high blood pressure.  Being overweight will also likely result in a high blood pressure.  Both weight and a lack of exercise contribute to high cholesterol, which in turn boosts blood pressure.

Some other factors that lead to high blood pressure include smoking, drinking, and excessive use of salt or high sodium products.  Also, most stimulants including caffeine, ephedra, pseudophedrine, and diet pills will boost your blood pressure, sometimes into dangerous levels. 

If you suspect you have high blood pressure you should see a doctor.  If you’re not sure, you should see a doctor.  Any time you visit a doctor for anything, they usually take a blood pressure reading, and if they don’t they should.  A doctor can help you determine if you need to be on blood pressure medication, or if simple lifestyle changes will be enough to help fight your high blood pressure.

If you already know you have high blood pressure, and have already seen a doctor about it, you may consider buying your own blood pressure monitor to keep tabs on your progress.  They are available in electronic form today, are very easy to use, and are a wise investment for anyone suffering from exceptionally high blood pressure. 

Resource links and products:

http://www.americanheart.org/ Test your knowledge of high blood pressure by taking this simple quiz. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/high_blood_pressure/article_em.htm  blood pressure is measured, it is a measure of how hard the heart has to work to pump the blood.