High blood pressure and Treatment

High blood pressure and Treatment

1. The most important is the confidence level in the bystander. if Ur mom or dad is down with severe hypertension, and they are put on pills,please do not panic. you need to build up the confidence level in them, and make them feel, today is better than yesterday.This brings a good relief and this is the most important.

2.Side effects of the pills, will always be there. as you are taking a chemical that is going to intervene in the flow of blood and is going to the affect the  heart, that pumps the blood. nothing can be done about it .

3. Please have a very very strict regime on the diet intake. no salts / oils and spices.
Blood Pressure is not a disease, which can be done away with.  its an ailment with which u need to live the entire life, but if u are brave enough and fight it, you can lead a normal life... but with care.any doctors in the group, please correct me if am wrong.

Please find herewith the details of how it is caused.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown. In fact, you can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. That's why it's the silent killer it creeps up on you. When the cause is unknown, you have what's called essential or primary hypertension. Factors that may lead to high blood pressure in the remaining 5 to 10 percent of cases, which are known as secondary hypertension, include:
Kidney abnormality
A structural abnormality of the aorta (large blood vessel leaving the heart) existing since birth
Narrowing of certain arteries
These problems can usually be corrected. For example, doctors can repair a narrowed artery that supplies blood to a kidney. Most of these problems can be ruled out by a careful history, a physical examination and a few tests. Special tests are sometimes needed, but you don't usually have to stay in the hospital.

How does high blood pressure develop?

Your heart pumps blood through the body's arteries. The large arteries that leave your heart taper into smaller arteries called arterioles. The arterioles then taper into smaller vessels called capillaries, which supply oxygen and nutrients to all the organs of your body. The blood then returns to your heart through the veins.
Certain nerve impulses cause your arteries to dilate (become larger) or contract (become smaller). If these vessels are wide open, blood can flow through easily. If they're narrow, it's harder for the blood to flow through them, and the pressure inside them increases. Then high blood pressure may occur. When this happens, your heart becomes strained and blood vessels may become damaged. Changes in the vessels that supply blood to your kidneys and brain may cause these organs to be affected.
Your heart, brain and kidneys can handle increased pressure for a long time. That's why you can live for years without any symptoms or ill effects. But that doesn't mean it's not hurting you. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.

What does high blood pressure do to your body?

High blood pressure adds to the workload of your heart and arteries. Your heart must pump harder, and the arteries carry blood that's moving under greater pressure. If high blood pressure continues for a long time, your heart and arteries may not work as well as they should. Other body organs may also be affected. There is increased risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and heart attack. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

What about low blood pressure?

Within certain limits, the lower your blood pressure reading is, the better. In most people, blood pressure isn't too low until it produces symptoms, such as light headedness or fainting. In certain disease states, it's possible for blood pressure to be too low. Examples include:
Certain nerve or endocrine disorders
Prolonged bed rest
Decreases in blood volume due to severe bleeding (hemorrhage) or dehydration
Blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg is generally considered ideal. Levels higher than this increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. If you have unusually low blood pressure, have it evaluated.

How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. In fact, many people have this disease for years without knowing it. Having high blood pressure (hypertension) doesn't mean you're tense, nervous or hyperactive. You can be a calm, relaxed person and still have hypertension. The only way to find out if you have this disease is to have your blood pressure checked! A blood pressure test is quick and painless. It can be done in a doctor's office, hospital clinic, school, nurse's office, company clinic or at a health fair.
A single high reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure, but it's a sign that you need to watch your blood pressure carefully. If your it's normal, get it checked at least every two years. If you have prehypertension, or if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you're at higher risk. Your doctor will tell you how often to have it checked.

How is blood pressure checked?

Blood pressure is measured using a medical instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A rubber cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated. When the cuff is inflated, it compresses a large artery in your arm, momentarily stopping the blood flow.
Next, air in the cuff is released, and the person measuring the blood pressure listens with a stethoscope. When the blood starts to pulse through the artery, it makes a sound. Sounds continue to be heard until pressure in the artery exceeds the pressure in the cuff.
The person listens and watches the gauge, then records two measurements. Systolic pressure is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats (the pressure when the first sound is heard). Diastolic pressure is the pressure between heartbeats (the pressure when the last sound is heard). Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, which is abbreviated mm Hg.

Do blood pressure cuffs come in different sizes?

Yes.  Children and adults with smaller or larger than average-sized arms may need special-sized cuffs. These are available in some pharmacies and from medical supply companies. They may also be ordered directly from companies that sell blood pressure cuffs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

Common Misconceptions

1. Common symptoms of high blood pressure include nervousness, sweating and difficulty sleeping.Wrong.

High blood pressure has NO symptoms. That's why it's often called the silent killer.The only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked. Some people who look and feel fit and healthy may find that they have high blood pressure. Likewise, some people who have other risk factors for heart disease and/or stroke (such as being overweight or smoking) may not have high blood pressure. According to recent estimates, one in four U.S. adults has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don't know it. That puts them at risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and even blindness in some cases. Have you had your blood pressure checked recently?

2. Every time I go to the doctor, my blood pressure is high, but that's just because I am nervous. I'm sure my blood pressure is OK at home.

Some people may experience what's called white-coat hypertension when they're at the doctor's office. This means their blood pressure is elevated temporarily due to nervousness. Many things can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations and stress. Monitoring at home may be one way to measure your true blood pressure and give your doctor a log of blood pressure measurements over time. Even though there are factors that can affect your blood pressure, you should never ignore several readings that indicate you may have high blood pressure.

3. If you have high cholesterol, you automatically have high blood pressure.

False.  High blood cholesterol doesn't automatically lead to high blood pressure, but many of the same lifestyle habits that may increase blood cholesterol levels also may cause elevated blood pressure. Examples include a diet high in saturated fat, lack of physical activity and drinking too much alcohol. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, hardening of the arteries, congestive heart failure and/or kidney disease. In some cases, it can cause blindness. High blood pressure can only be detected by having it checked.

4. These days everyone has high blood pressure. It's just a fact of life, and I don't need to worry about it.

These are stressful times, and stress may add to your risk factors for high blood pressure. That's why it's so important to have your blood pressure checked. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Also, high blood pressure is the No. 1 modifiable risk factor for stroke. Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. That means about 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year; nearly 163,000 of them will die. Stroke is our nation's No. 3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. To learn more about other factors that can increase your risk of stroke and how to help prevent stroke.

5. I took my high blood pressure medication for a while, but I am feeling much better now. I figure it's OK to cut it back or even quit.

Absolutely not. High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled but not cured. If your doctor has prescribed medication for you, take it exactly as prescribed for as long as the doctor tells you to take it. Decreasing dosage or not taking the medication is dangerous. It's also important to make the right lifestyle changes by eating a low-salt, low-saturated-fat diet; maintaining a healthy weight; getting plenty of physical activity (30 to 60 minutes on most or all days of the week); and staying away from tobacco products. This will help control your blood pressure and thus reduce your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease.

6. High blood pressure is a man's problem.  I am a woman so I don't have to worry.

High blood pressure can be anyone's problem. In fact, women need to be aware of certain things that may put them at a greater risk for high blood pressure than men. If you're on the Pill, pregnant, overweight, postmenopausal, African American or have a family history of high blood pressure, you may be more likely to have high blood pressure. It's important to get the facts so you can reduce your risk for stroke, heart disease or kidney disease by controlling as many high blood pressure risk factors as you can.

7. I can take any kind of over-the-counter medications when I have a cold or the flu.

That's not true. People with high blood pressure should know that taking certain cold, cough and flu medications could be dangerous. Decongestants have been reported to increase blood pressure and may interfere with blood pressure medications. Many over-the-counter drugs can have a dangerous effect on certain heart conditions and increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. If you're one of the 65 million Americans who have high blood pressure, make sure to choose cold and flu medications that don't contain decongestants.