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How Does High Blood Pressure Affect The Body

High Blood Pressure And Metabolic Syndrome

High Blood Pressure: How Does It Affect the Body?

Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of risk factors, including high blood pressure, that raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health problems. It is diagnosed when any three of these risk factors are present:

  • High blood glucose
  • Low levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood
  • High levels of triglycerides in the blood
  • Large waist circumference or apple-shaped body
  • High blood pressure

What Medications Are Used To Treat High Blood Pressure

Four classes of high blood pressure medications are considered first line when starting treatment. Sometimes other medications are coupled with these first-line drugs to better control your high blood pressure. First-line drug pressure lowering medications are:

  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors block the production the angiotensin II hormone, which the body naturally uses to control blood pressure. When angiotensin II is blocked, your blood vessels dont narrow. Examples: lisinopril , enalapril , captopril .
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers block this same hormone from binding with receptors in the blood vessels. ARBs work the same way as ACE inhibitors to keep blood vessels from narrowing. Examples: metoprolol , valsartan , losartan .
  • Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels, allowing these vessels to relax. Examples: amlodipine , nifedipine , diltiazem .
  • Diuretics flush excess sodium from your body, reducing the amount of fluid in your blood. Diuretics are often used with other high blood pressure medicines, sometimes in one combined pill. Examples: indapamide, hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide.

Stroke And Brain Problems

High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you.

Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life. Learn more about the link between high blood pressure and dementia from the National Institutes of Healths Mind Your Risks®external icon campaign.

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Making The Exercise Habit Stick

Despite our best intentions, many of us struggle ditching our sedentary lifestyle. But there are steps you can take to make exercise less intimidating and more fun.

Start small and build momentum. If exercising for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week sounds overwhelming, set a smaller goal and gradually build up as you gain self-confidence and momentum.

Reward yourself. Once it becomes a regular habit, exercise will reward you with more energy, better sleep, a greater sense of well-being, and improved cardiovascular health. When youre starting out, though, give yourself a simple reward for successfully completing a workout, such as having a hot bath or a favorite cup of coffee.

Choose activities you enjoy. Youre more likely to stick with a workout you find pleasurable. If you hate running but like yoga or dancing, for example, dont force yourself onto the treadmill every day. Pick activities that fit your lifestyle, abilities, and taste.

See How to Start Exercising and Stick to It to learn more.

The effects on your blood pressure

  • 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking, for five days of the week can reduce your reading by 4 to 11 mm Hg.

How Does High Blood Pressure Affect The Body

Negative Effects Of High Blood Pressure On Your Body

High blood pressure usually develops over time and can seriously damage important organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

  • Heart Attack and heart diseases High blood pressure can decrease the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. When the blood supply to your heart is blocked and heart muscle begins to die without enough oxygen. This is how a heart attack happens. In addition, your heart cant pump enough blood and oxygen to other organs leading to a heart failure.
  • Stroke and Brain Problems High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Strokes are deadly.
  • Kidney Disease Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those without these conditions.

In Hindi

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How Does High Blood Pressure Affect The Human Body

Hypertension or high blood pressure is when the person has a blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg. Experts say that India will soon become the art disease capital of the world.

  • About 33% of urban Indians and 25% of rural Indians suffer from high blood pressure.
  • High blood pressure is considered the third most important factor for the attributable burden of disease in South Asia. ” rel=”nofollow”> Source)
  • More than 50% of death due to stroke and almost 25% of deaths due to coronary heart disease are due to high blood pressure.
  • High blood pressure is considered one of the primary causes of premature death by the World Health Organization.
  • More than one-fifth of men and an equal number of women are suffering from hypertension.
  • One in every 11 Indians is suffering from high blood pressure and related problems.
  • Women will surpass men suffering from high blood pressure by 2025.
  • Earlier, the non-controllable factors like the genetic constitution, age, and gender were responsible for susceptibility to high blood pressure. Now, modifiable risk factors like physical inactivity, diet, and stress contribute to the risk of getting hypertension.
  • Most people exhibit no symptoms, and this is why hypertension is known as the Silent Killer. Some people might experience symptoms of dizziness, nose bleeds, chest pain, and heart palpitations.
  • A sedentary lifestyle without any exercise routine increases the risk of getting problems related to high blood pressure by two times.
  • The Anatomy Of An Erection

    During sexual arousal, nerves release chemicals that increase blood flow into the penis. Blood flows into two erection chambers in the penis, which are made of spongy muscle tissue called the corpus cavernosum.

    During an erection, the corpus cavernosum fills up with blood making the penis firm. After orgasm, the muscles of the penis relax, releasing blood back into the circulation system. As a result, the erection comes down, the penis is soft and limp, and the mans urogenital system returns to its pre-arousal state.

    High blood pressure damages blood vessels, reducing blood flow throughout the body, including the penis. Hardened and narrow blood vessels make it difficult for blood to flow into the penis before intercourse.

    Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of damaged blood vessels. When your blood flows naturally, you can have healthy erections. Natural arousal leads to increased blood flow to your penis causing an erection. This process becomes more difficult with high blood pressure. Slowing of blood flow in the pelvic region can make getting or maintaining an erection a challenge. This change in sexual function is sometimes a warning sign of a larger problem, prompting people to seek help.

    If you have isolated high blood pressure, but otherwise a clean bill of health, you are usually safe to take ED drugs. But if you have health complications like severe cardiovascular disease or urinary tract issues, ED drugs are usually not recommended.

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    How Can I Tell If I Have High Blood Pressure

    The only way to know if you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

    You will want an average of two or more readings on two or more occasions to verify if you have high blood pressure.

    You should check your blood pressure yearly and more frequently if youve had high or low blood pressure. Sometimes it helps to keep a blood pressure diary. Bring your recordings into your doctor. Dont check more than once per day, but check at variable times. One day in the morning, the next day at lunch, and the next day at dinner.

    Can You Feel Weather Symptoms In Your Bones Or In Your Head Discover Four Ways High And Low Barometric Pressure Changes Affect The Human Body

    How blood pressure works – Wilfred Manzano

    Can you feel a storm coming a mile away? Have you been told you’re a human barometer who can sense changes in barometric pressure? You’re not crazy and you’re not alone. It is possible to feel that storm coming “in your bones” – or in your head.

    “Barometric pressure is atmospheric pressure, the weight of the atmosphere,” said headache specialist Dr. Cynthia Armand during a Facebook live chat hosted by the American Migraine Foundation. “It signals and lets us know what’s going on.

    “Barometric pressure changes affect our bodies in a handful of ways. Some people may be more sensitive to weather changes than others, like people with Migraine or arthritis.

    “If there’s a fall in barometric pressure that means a storm or some kind of weather change is coming,” Dr. Armand said.

    It’s difficult to say the barometric pressure is solely responsible for extra aches, though. Weather shifts and storms come with other changes like temperature swings, rain or snow, and changes in the wind.

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    What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean

    Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:

    The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

    The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

    If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, 120 over 80, or write, 120/80 mmHg.

    How Blood Pressure Is Controlled

    When the heart contracts, the blood inside the left ventricle is forced out into the aorta and arteries. The blood then enters small vessels with muscular walls, called arterioles. The tone in the muscular walls of the arterioles determines how relaxed or constricted they are. If narrowed, they resist flow.Reduced flow of blood is detected in the brain, the kidneys and elsewhere. Nerve reflexes are stimulated and hormones are then produced. The heart is induced to beat more forcefully so that blood pressure is maintained at a higher level, to overcome the restricted flow through the arterioles. The achievement of good flow eases possible problems for function of the brain and kidneys.These adjustments occur normally. However, in some people the adjustments become fixed and high blood pressure persists. These people have developed hypertension.

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    What Are The Complications Of Uncontrolled Hypertension

    • Chest pain, also called angina.
    • Heart attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked and heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.
    • Heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to other vital body organs.
    • Irregular heart beat which can lead to a sudden death.

    Risks Of High Blood Pressure

    What is Hypertension?

    If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.

    Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:

    • have a relative with high blood pressure
    • are of black African or black Caribbean descent
    • live in a deprived area

    Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it’s already high.

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    Do I Have High Blood Pressure

    Anyone can have high blood pressure. Some medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, and thyroid problems, can cause high blood pressure. Some people have a greater chance of having it because of things they can’t change. These are:

    • Age. The chance of having high blood pressure increases as you get older, especially isolated systolic hypertension.
    • Gender. Before age 55, men have a greater chance of having high blood pressure. Women are more likely to have high blood pressure after menopause.
    • Family history. High blood pressure tends to run in some families.
    • Race. African Americans are at increased risk for high blood pressure.

    High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms, but routine checks of your blood pressure will help detect increasing levels. If your blood pressure reading is high at two or more check-ups, the doctor may also ask you to measure your blood pressure at home.

    There are important considerations for older adults in deciding whether to start treatment for high blood pressure if it is above 130/80, including other health conditions and overall fitness. Your doctor may work with you to find a blood pressure target that is best for your well-being and may suggest exercise, changes in your diet, and medications.

    Know Your Risk For High Blood Pressure

    Some medical conditions can raise your risk for high blood pressure, but you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.

    Risk factors that can increase your risk of high blood pressure include health conditions, your lifestyle, and your family history.

    Some of the risk factors for high blood pressure cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.

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    S Of The Body Impacted By High Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a serious illness that affects nearly 65 million adults across the nation. Hypertension is a silent killer that can cause very serious health issues if left untreated, said Jason McKnight, MD, MS, primary care physician at Texas A& M Family Care and clinical assistant professor at the Texas A& M College of Medicines Texas A& M Family Medicine Residency Program. Patients typically only show symptoms of hypertension if the pressure is very high. It is important to always monitor your blood pressure and take any medications prescribed, whether you feel symptoms or not.

    Treatment Of Pulmonary Hypertension

    Understanding Hypertension

    Sadly, pulmonary hypertension is not curable, but with proper treatment, it can be kept under control. As far as medication is concerned, here are some options that you doctor may prescribe for such a condition:

    • Blood vessel dilators will help enlarged narrow blood vessels, which cause the blood to flow normally through them.
    • Endothelin receptor antagonists will counteract endothelin, the substance that causes your blood vessel to narrow.
    • Sildenafil and tadalafil are drugs which act on the lungs blood vessel, improving blood circulation.
    • Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators help you pulmonary arteries to relax, thus lowering high blood pressure.
    • Anticoagulants are needed if your doctor finds any blood clots that cause pulmonary hypertension.
    • Diuretics will help your body eliminate any extra body fluids, which takes off some of the strain put on your heart.

    Depending on the situations, doctors may also be required to perform surgeries in patients that suffer from pulmonary hypertension. The two most common medical interventions are:

    • Atrial septostomy is open-heart surgery which is normally performed when pulmonary hypertension medication treatment fails.
    • In severe cases, doctors can also choose to perform lung transplants. This produce is most common in younger people who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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    Blood Pressure And The Heart

    Theres a reason why your blood pressure is taken every time you visit a doctors office or hospital, regardless of the complaint that brought you there. High blood pressure is rightly known as the silent killer. It often carries no symptoms or warning signs but can drastically increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The higher the number, the harder your heart is having to work to pump blood around your body and the more likely it is that damage is being done to the heart muscle. Since all parts of your body rely on circulation, though, its not just your heart that high blood pressure can impact. If blood doesnt flow easily, it can harm your arteries as well as vital organs such as the kidneys, eyes, and brain.

    High blood pressure has been shown to damage the tiny blood vessels in the parts of your brain responsible for cognition and memory, greatly increasing your risk of developing Alzheimers disease or another dementia. Being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can also take an emotional toll, affecting your outlook and making you more susceptible to anxiety and depression. And just as blood pressure may have an impact your mood, the reverse can also be true:

    What Are The Risk Factors For High Blood Pressure

    Nearly one-third of all Americans have high blood pressure, but it is particularly prevalent in:

    • People who have diabetes, gout, or kidney disease

    • African Americans

    • People in their early to middle adult years men in this age group have higher blood pressure more often than women in this age group

    • People in their middle to later adult years women in this age group have higher blood pressure more often than men in this age group

    • Middle-aged and elderly people more than half of all Americans age 60 and older have high blood pressure

    • People with a family history of high blood pressure

    • People consuming a high salt diet

    • Overweight people

    • Women who are taking oral contraceptives

    • People with depression

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    Heart Attack And Heart Disease

    High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:

    • Chest pain, also called angina.
    • Heart attack, which happens when the blood supply to your heart is blocked and heart muscle begins to die without enough oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.
    • Heart failure, a condition that means your heart cant pump enough blood and oxygen to your other organs.

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