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What Are The Signs Of Hypertension

Get To Know Your Numbers

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Because there arent any symptoms, its important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Get to know the numbers and when to get help from your doctor.

Your blood pressure will have two numbers:

  • Systolic is the upper number, measuring when your heart is forcing blood through your vessels.
  • Diastolic is the lower number, measuring pressure between heart beats.

For example, 120/80 indicates a systolic blood pressure of 120 and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm/Hg.

How Often Should You Check Your Blood Pressure

The most important element in the management of high blood pressure is follow-up care.

  • Routine blood pressure check-ups are important to monitor readings and decide upon a treatment plan.
  • With age and the natural progression of hardening of the arteries, systolic blood pressure may elevate over time. A treatment that once worked well may no longer work as well and your medication treatment may need to be changed.
  • Routine physical exams and screening blood tests may be suggested to help monitor the success of blood pressure management.
  • Follow-up visits are a good time to discuss with your doctor any medication side effects that you may be experiencing. Your doctor will have suggestions for managing side effects or may change your treatment.
  • Follow-up visits are a great opportunity for monitoring for other associated risk factors, such as high cholesterol, smoking cessation, and obesity.

Can High Blood Pressure Affect Pregnancy

High blood pressure complicates about 10% of all pregnancies. There are several different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy and range from mild to serious. The forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:

Chronic hypertension: High blood pressure which is present prior to pregnancy.

Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia: Preeclampsia, which develops in someone who has chronic hypertension .

Gestational hypertension: High blood pressure in the latter part of pregnancy, but no other signs or symptoms of preeclampsia are present. Some women will later develop preeclampsia, while others probably have high blood pressure before the pregnancy.

Preeclampsia: This is found in the latter half of pregnancy and results in hypertension, protein in the urine and generalized swelling in the mother. It can affect other organs in the body and cause seizures .

Your blood pressure will be checked regularly during prenatal appointments, but if you have concerns about your blood pressure, be sure to talk with your provider.

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Heres What You Need To Know About What To Look For Along With Expert Tips On Monitoring Your Blood Pressure At Home

Your blood pressure rises and falls naturally throughout the day. However, if it stays high for a long period of time, it can damage your heart and cause a number of health conditions, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about one in three adults in the United States, but many people dont know they have it.

Family History Of Hypertension

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While exercising and healthy eating go a long way towards lowering your blood pressure, there are some risk factors that you may not be able to change.

Genetics is a major contributing factor when it comes to your hearts health, and blood pressure can be hereditary. If you are aware of your immediate family being hypertensive or having had a heart attack before the age of 45 , you should make it a priority to visit a doctor.

Understanding family history is important to recognize the cause of high blood pressure, further evaluating whether it is genetic, poor eating habits or lack of exercise repeating itself across generations is also essential.

Even if you have a family history of high blood pressure, it doesnt mean that you cant take actions to avoid another heart episode in the family. Recognizing high blood pressure is challenging, but with regular blood pressure readings, you can easily track it.

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Eat Less Meat More Plants

A plant-based diet is an easy way to increase fiber and reduce the amount of sodium and unhealthy saturated and trans fat you take in from dairy foods and meat. Increase the number of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and whole grains youre eating. Instead of red meat, opt for healthier lean proteins like fish, poultry, or tofu.

What Is High Blood Pressure What Is Normal Blood Pressure

  • High blood pressure is defined as high pressure in the arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
  • Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers:
  • The systolic blood pressure equals the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts.
  • The diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes.
  • Normal blood pressure is below 120/80.
  • In 2017, the American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure.
  • Blood pressure between 120/80 and 129/80 is elevated blood pressure, and a blood pressure of 130/80 or above is considered high.
  • The American Academy of Cardiology defines blood pressure ranges as:
  • Hypertension stage 1 is 130-139 or 80-89 mm Hg, and hypertension stage 2 is 140 or higher, or 90 mm Hg or higher.
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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.

    What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure

    Causes and Symptoms of Hypertension | Medical Minute Monday Ep. 15

    One in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure and many dont even know it. How can this be? Because high blood pressure rarely has any symptoms.;

    High blood pressure or hypertension is known as a silent disease because you may not feel any symptoms at all, says;Priscilla Bullen, FNP-BC,;of Riverside Primary Care Hidenwood. It increases your risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and heart attack.

    Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your blood vessel walls. High blood pressure is when that force is higher than normal. It often has no signs or symptoms and can lead to other health problems if its not treated.

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    What Causes A Hypertension

    Blood pressure is given as a reading of two numbers, such as 110/70. The higher number is the pressure when the heart beats. The diastolic, or lower number shows the pressure between the heartbeats, while the relaxed heart is refilling with blood. Normal blood pressure readings are lower than 120/80. The cause of most hypertension is unknown. Occasionally, conditions of the kidney or adrenal gland are the cause of high blood pressure.

    There are several factors that may cause high blood pressure, but the exact cause is unknown. The following factors may increase one’s risk for high blood pressure:

    • Sleep apnea

    Foods For High Blood Pressure

    If you are eating a whole foods plant-based diet and are still struggling with high blood pressure, there are certain foods you can incorporate into your diet.

    A few tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day has been shown to greatly reduce blood pressure. In this study, flaxseed was found to be 2 to 3 times more powerful than an exercise program.

    Hibiscus tea also seems to be effective at reducing blood pressure. Although, more research is needed.

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    When Should You Call A Doctor For High Blood Pressure

    Many symptoms present gradually after years of poorly blood pressure control. Often, the first knowledge of hypertension occurs when a person complains of chest pain or has stroke-like symptoms. Should these occur, it is appropriate to call 911 immediately to activate emergency medical services and seek care.

    You may be directed to seek medical care if blood pressure readings are elevated if done as part of a community health screening. Isolated elevated blood pressure readings do not necessarily make the diagnosis of hypertension. Blood pressure readings vary throughout the day, and your primary care provider may record a different reading than the one that was measured in a screening that sent you in for care.

    There are non-specific symptoms associated with hypertension that may cause a person to seek care that includes;

    • lightheadedness,

    There are many other reasons to develop these symptoms other than high blood pressure.

    How To Lower Blood Pressure: The Dash Diet

    Symptoms High Blood Pressure Hypertension Infographic ...

    Dietary changes can help control blood pressure. One diet designed to promote lower blood pressure is known as the DASH diet. This stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet recommends eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, nuts, and fish. Red meat, saturated fats, and sweets should be avoided. The DASH diet can lower blood pressure within 2 weeks. It can also help to reduce your intake of sodium. The following is the DASH diet suggested daily intake:

    • 7-8 servings of grain
    • 2-3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products
    • 2-3 servings of fats and oils
    • 2 or less servings of meat, poultry, and fish

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    Maintain A Healthy Weight

    Being overweight is a risk factor for having high blood pressure, and your risk increases further if you are obese.

    There are two ways to check if you are overweight:

    • Body Mass Index – This is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. In the UK, people with a BMI of between 25 to 30 are overweight, and those with an index above 30 are classed as obese. People with a BMI of 40 or more are morbidly obese.;
    • Waist size;- Using a measuring tape place the tape round your waist between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hip bone. The table below indicates how much your health might be at risk, your ethnicity should also be taken into account.;
    Sex
    ; Over 80 cm

    The best way to tackle obesity is by reducing the amount of calories that you eat, and taking regular exercise. Your GP can provide you with further information and advice on how you can do this.

    More about having a healthy weight

    Signs Of High Blood Pressure

    Many adults have high blood pressure, but they arent aware of it. Thats why medical experts call hypertension a silent condition. The only way to know for sure if you have high blood pressure is to measure it regularly. You can do this at home or during a visit to your doctors office.;

    Although not directly caused by hypertension, there are a few symptoms that can indirectly result from high blood pressure numbers. These include:;

    Blood spots in the eyes

    Having red spots in your eyes is most commonly seen in individuals with high blood pressure or diabetes. Diabetes and high blood pressure do not cause blood spots, however. An ophthalmologist can best determine if untreated hypertension is causing optic nerve damage, leading to blood spots in the eyes.;

    Facial flushing

    Lots of internal and external factors can cause facial flushing, like eating spicy foods, drinking hot drinks, wind, stress, hormone fluctuation, and skincare products. Your face can flush when you have higher than normal blood pressure, but hypertension isnt causing facial flushing.;

    Dizziness

    Early warning signs of a stroke include sudden onset of dizziness, loss of balance, and trouble walking. High blood pressure is the top risk factor for stroke, so its possible for high blood pressure and dizziness to be related. Dizziness is also a common side effect of some blood pressure medications.;

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    Diagnosis Of High Blood Pressure

    The best way to diagnose HBP is to have it measured. A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury , has two numbers.

    • Systolic blood pressure indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls during heartbeats.
    • Diastolic blood pressure indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while the heart is resting between beats.

    Blood pressure measurements fall into four general categories. The American Heart Associations guidelines are as follow:

    • Normal blood pressure: A reading of less than 120 and 80
    • Elevated blood pressure: A reading ranging from 120 to 129 and below 80
    • Stage 1 hypertension: A reading ranging from 130 to 139 or 80 to 89
    • Stage 2 hypertension: A reading ranging from 140 or higher or 90
    • Hypertensive crisis : A reading higher than 180 and/or 120

    *If you have an electronic blood pressure machine and would like to measure your blood pressure at home, please follow The American Heart Associations guidelines:

    Recognize The Signs Of High Blood Pressure

    Signs of Borderline hypertension

    It is possible to have high blood pressure for years without having any symptoms. In fact, hypertension is often considered to be a symptomless silent killer.

    However, not having symptoms doesnt mean that no damage is being done to your blood vessels and your heart. High blood pressure related conditions are the leading cause of death and diseases in industrialized countries.

    There are several symptoms that may be indirectly linked to high blood pressure. Here they are:

    Signs of high blood pressure

    • Headaches
    • Dizziness

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    High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

    Women with hypertension can deliver healthy babies despite having the condition. But it can be dangerous to both mother and baby if its not monitored closely and managed during the pregnancy.

    Women with high blood pressure are more likely to develop complications. For example, pregnant women with hypertension may experience decreased kidney function. Babies born to mothers with hypertension may have a low birth weight or be born prematurely.

    Some women may develop hypertension during their pregnancies. Several types of high blood pressure problems can develop. The condition often reverses itself once the baby is born. Developing hypertension during pregnancy may increase your risk for developing hypertension later in life.

    Is There Is A High Blood Pressure Diet

    In about half of people with high blood pressure, limiting sodium intake by eliminating table salt, cooking salt, and salty and processed foods can reduce blood pressure by 5 mm Hg. Losing weight and participating in regular physical activity can reduce blood pressure further.

    If these lifestyle changes and choices don’t work, medications should be added. The medications have been proven to reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, and kidney problems.

    Weight Control

    • Aim for a healthy weight range for your height and body type. Your health care practitioner can help you calculate a healthy target weight.
    • Even a small amount of weight loss can make a major difference in lowering or preventing high blood pressure.
    • You must burn more calories than you take in to lose weight.
    • Crash or fad diets are not helpful and may be dangerous.
    • Some weight loss medications also carry major risks and may even elevate blood pressure, and great caution is advised in using these drugs. Please ask your health care practitioner or pharmacist for help in deciding if a weight loss medication is appropriate for your situation.

    Exercise or Increase Physical Activity

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    Is There A Cure For High Blood Pressure Can You Die

    Lifelong control of hypertension will minimize the risk of developing heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and a variety of other illnesses. Unlike other illnesses in which medications are taken for only a short period of time, high blood pressure medication is usually expected to be taken for the rest of the individual’s life. It is uncommon, but not rare, that significant lifestyle changes can lower blood pressure readings to normal.

    Untreated or poorly controlled high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. That is why high blood pressure is called “the silent killer.”

    What Is Blood Pressure

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    Blood pressure is a measurement of the force of your blood as it pushes against artery walls. This force moves blood throughout your body. Every time you visit a doctor, you get a blood pressure reading to make sure your blood pressure numbers arent too high or too low. If they get above a certain level, heart and blood problems can arise.;

    A typical blood pressure reading involves a top number and a bottom number. The top number refers to systolic blood pressure, or the measure of blood pressure when your heart contracts. The bottom number refers to diastolic blood pressure, or the measure of blood pressure when your heart expands.

    But how do you know if your blood pressure is too high? Learn about the signs and symptoms and ways to treat high blood pressure if you have it.

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    How Common Is Hypertension In Children

    Hypertension is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents. A recent study that looked at 15,000 adolescents found that nearly one in five had hypertension. And theres reason to believe that hypertension is vastly underdiagnosed in children, since:

    • it can be difficult to measure in infants and young children
    • its sometimes challenging to identify
    • its often thought of as not something that really affects kids

    The rise in the number of children with primary hypertension in the United States is thought to correlate with the rise of obesity.

    How Common Is High Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure is a common condition, it is estimated that 18% of adult men and 13% of adult women have high blood pressure but are not getting treatment for it.

    In 90-95% of cases, there is no single identifiable reason for a rise in blood pressure. But all available evidence shows that lifestyle plays a significant role in regulating your blood pressure.

    Risk factors for high blood pressure include:

    • age
    • poor diet
    • being overweight
    • excessive alcohol consumption.

    Also, for reasons not fully understood, people of Afro-Caribbean and South Asian origin are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other ethnic groups.

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