What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood
pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries
(blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure,
also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to
pump blood to the body and it contributes to hardening of the arteries or
atherosclerosis and the development of heart failure.What Is "Normal"
Blood Pressure?
There are several categories of blood pressure, including: Normal: Less
than 120/80 Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 Stage 1 high blood pressure:
140-159/90-99 Stage 2 high blood pressure: 160 and above/100 and above.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known. Several factors and
conditions may play a role in its development, including: Smoking Being
overweight Lack of physical activity Too much salt in the diet. Too much alcohol
consumption (no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day) Stress Older age Genetics
Family history of high blood pressure Chronic kidney disease Adrenal and thyroid
disorders.
What
Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
There are usually no symptoms or signs of high blood pressure. In fact, nearly
one-third of those who have it don't know it. The only way to know if you have
high blood pressure definitely is to have your blood pressure checked.
If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look
out for, including: Severe headache, Fatigue, or confusion, Vision problems, Chest
pain, Difficulty breathing ,Irregular heartbeat, & Blood in the urine.
What Health Problems Are Associated With High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a serious condition that can damage the heart and blood vessels, and can eventually lead to several other conditions, including: Stroke Heart failure, Heart attack, Kidney failure, Vision problems.
Case
Study High Blood Pressure
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