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What Could Cause High Blood Pressure

What Are The Classifications Of Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Facts : Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure can come in a few stages:

  • Low blood pressure is below 90/60 mm HG, but the term hypotension is sometimes used to refer to a relative decrease in blood pressure. Fatigue, nausea, and fainting are not uncommon at this stage.
  • Normal blood pressure is generally anything below 120/80 mm HG
  • Elevated blood pressure represents blood pressure ranging between 120-129 mm HG systole and below 80 mm Hg diastole.
  • Stage 1 represents blood pressure ranging between 130-139 mm Hg systole and 80-89 mm Hg diastole.
  • Stage 2 represents a blood pressure ranging 140+ mm Hg systole and 90+ mm Hg diastole
  • A hypertensive Crisis is blood pressure above 180/120 mm Hg. If this is your blood pressure call 911.
  • Blood pressure is one health metric that tends to slowly increase with age, but it is also highly correlated with heart disease and stroke when it reaches the stage of hypertension, i.e. high blood pressure.

    Knowing if you have high blood pressure during a resting state is an important first step for understanding your heart health, and it can help you identify sudden changes.

    What Are The Risks Of Resistant Hypertension

    Over time, uncontrolled hypertension damages the arteries, contributing to their stiffening. As the arteries become narrower and less flexible, the heart has to work harder to move blood through the body. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and other heart conditions; cause damage to your kidneys, memory and vision; and contribute to erectile dysfunction.

    British Columbia Specific Information

    High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can damage your blood vessels, heart and kidneys. This damage can cause a heart attack, stroke or other health problems. Your blood pressure reading is based on two measurements called systolic and diastolic. The systolic and diastolic are written as a ratio, for example . A reading of more than 140/90 mmHg taken at your healthcare providers office may indicate high blood pressure. This figure is different for people with diabetes whose blood pressure should be below 130/80 mmHg. People suffering from other illnesses will have different target normal values. For more information on hypertension, visit the Heart & Stroke Foundation and Hypertension Canada.

    Healthy lifestyle choices can help lower your blood pressure and improve your health. For information on healthy eating for lowering your blood pressure, see:

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    What Causes Labile Hypertension

    When labile hypertension is suspected, a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor may be used to confirm the diagnosis. Then the work of pinpointing the underlying cause begins. Serious detective work often is required. We look at the patients overall health, lifestyle and medications, says Dr. Lioudis.

    When a medication or lifestyle choice is the precipitating factor, making appropriate changes can cause labile hypertension to disappear.

    Underlying medical conditions are a bigger concern, since they may be harder to treat.

    We look for sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease or a problem with the adrenal glands, as any of these can cause blood pressure to fluctuate,says Dr. Lioudis.

    Being Overweight Or Obese

    Could High Blood Pressure Cause Alzheimer

    Multiplestudies show that people who are overweight or obese tend to have higher blood pressure than those who are not, and some have even suggested that significant excess weight is behind almost 40% of all hypertension diagnoses. If you are overweight, the best thing to do to reduce your risk for hypertension is to lose weight by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

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    You Shouldn’t Ignore White Coat Hypertension

    Some people experience white coat hypertension, when blood pressure is elevated in the doctor’s office but not in other settings. These patients need to monitor their blood pressure at home or wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that takes your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.

    While white coat hypertension was formerly considered simple nervousness, recent research suggests otherwise.

    A study published in the journal;Hypertension;found that people with white coat hypertension are at a significantly greater risk for developing sustained high blood pressure than people who have normal blood pressure. One possible explanation is that people with white coat hypertension have a harder time managing stress and anxiety.

    You Don’t Know What Those Numbers Mean

    OK, so you checked your blood pressure on the machine at your local CVS, but what does 130/90 mean?

    Well, it means you may have elevated blood pressure and now have a reason to see your doctor. The top number stands for systolic pressure, the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats or pumps. The bottom or diastolic number;represents the pressure when your heart relaxes and fills with blood. The official guidelines say that normal blood pressure is under 120/80.

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    Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

    Some people buy their own blood pressure monitor to use at home. This means you can measure your blood pressure on an ongoing basis.

    The blood pressure readings you do at home are as good as those done by your doctor.

    If you decide to buy one, it’s important to get the correct cuff size. If the cuff is too big or too small, it can give an inaccurate reading.

    If you take your own blood pressure and get an unusually high reading, take it a second time after at least five minutes. If it’s still high and you’re worried, contact your nurse or GP.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Resistant Hypertension

    High Blood Pressure In Young Adults Could Lead To Heart Disease

    You can have hypertension without having any symptoms. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked by a health care provider.

    However, symptoms may be felt when blood pressure first rises or during a hypertensive crisis, when levels are extremely high. These symptoms may include headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain and nosebleeds.

    Dizziness is usually not a symptom of high blood pressure. In fact, dizziness can sometimes be a symptom of low blood pressure. Frequent or unexplained dizziness may be a warning sign of a serious condition and should be addressed by your physician.

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    List Of Foods That Cause High Blood Pressure: 22 Worst Foods

    The risk of;hypertension or high blood pressure, is associated with lack of exercise and weight gain as well. Habits like;eating salty foods and smoking;can increase blood pressure. Everything which you ingest may either cause blood pressure to be high or help it. This is due to the sodium retention. As we know, sodium retention is a major primary factor of hypertension. Therefore, with hypertension you want to have one diet low in fat and sodium. In this article, VKool.com will show you 22 worst foods on the list of foods that cause high blood pressure. The writing collected a list of foods that cause high blood pressure from reliable sources. However, it is not intended to give medical advice and it is solely for the informational purpose. Keep reading this writing to learn these 22 foods that cause high blood pressure in more detail!

    Surprising Causes Of High Blood Pressure

    SPECIAL FROMGrandparents.com

    Quick – what causes high blood pressure? The first culprits that pop into your mind are likely to be: eating too much salt, being stressed out all the time, and alcohol abuse. And you would be right. But there are also less obvious causes of high blood pressure, a condition that affects about one in three, or 78 million, adults in the U.S.

    The best data demonstrates that hypertension is almost unavoidable as we age, says Clyde Yancy, MD, chief of cardiology and associate director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Once we reach age 55, we have a 90 percent chance of becoming hypertensive.”

    Yet that inevitability doesnt mean we cant do something about it. Step one is to modify your lifestyle: lose weight, exercise, and eat a wholesome diet, explains Dr. Yancy. Another thing you can do: Get to know these less well-known blood pressure factors:

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    What Are The Different Types Of High Blood Pressure

    There are two main types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary high blood pressure.

    • Primary, or essential, high blood pressure is the most common type of high blood pressure. For most people who get this kind of blood pressure, it develops over time as you get older.
    • Secondary high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or use of certain medicines. It usually gets better after you treat that condition or stop taking the medicines that are causing it.

    What Is Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure symptoms: Add apples to your diet to ...

    Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.

    Your blood pressure reading uses these two numbers. Usually the systolic number comes before or above the diastolic number. For example, 120/80 means a systolic of 120 and a diastolic of 80.

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    Diagnosing High Blood Pressure

    Diagnosing hypertension is as simple as taking a blood pressure reading. Most doctors offices check blood pressure as part of a routine visit. If you dont receive a blood pressure reading at your next appointment, request one.

    If your blood pressure is elevated, your doctor may request you have more readings over the course of a few days or weeks. A hypertension diagnosis is rarely given after just one reading. Your doctor needs to see evidence of a sustained problem. Thats because your environment can contribute to increased blood pressure, such as the stress you may feel by being at the doctors office. Also, blood pressure levels change throughout the day.

    If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor will likely conduct more tests to rule out underlying conditions. These tests can include:

    These tests can help your doctor identify any secondary issues causing your elevated blood pressure. They can also look at the effects high blood pressure may have had on your organs.

    During this time, your doctor may begin treating your hypertension. Early treatment may reduce your risk of lasting damage.

    Two numbers create a blood pressure reading:

    Five categories define blood pressure readings for adults:

    What You Need To Know

    • Twenty percent of patients with hypertension are resistant.
    • Resistant hypertension may have no symptoms at all for months or years, but then can cause heart attack, stroke, and vision and kidney damage.
    • Some people have pseudoresistant hypertension, which is caused by other factors, such as conflicting medications or white coat hypertension .
    • Pseudoresistant hypertension is important to diagnose and treat.
    • Assessment and treatment of resistant hypertension includes addressing any identifiable conditions or causes and adjusting medications in a personalized way.

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    Negative Effects Of Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one out of every three American adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Because high blood pressure is so common, it might be tempting to assume that its no big deal. But the truth is, that when left untreated, high blood pressure can put you at risk for potentially life-threatening complications.

    Here are eight ways that uncontrolled high blood pressure can negatively affect your health:

  • It raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure damages the walls of your arteries. This makes them more likely to develop deposits of plaque that harden, narrow or block your arteries. These deposits also can lead to blood clots. Blood clots can flow through your bloodstream and block blood flow to your heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
  • It makes you more likely to develop heart failure. When your arteries are hardened or narrowed, your heart has to work harder to circulate your blood. This increased workload can cause your heart to become larger and fail to supply your organs with blood.
  • You may experience chest pain. Chest pain, also called angina, occurs when the heart does not get the blood it needs. When people with high blood pressure perform activities such as walking uphill, going up steps, or exercising, angina can cause pressure, squeezing, pain, or a feeling of fullness in the chest.
  • Blurry vision or other vision problems
  • Dizziness
  • Chest discomfort or pain
  • Developing A Healthy Diet

    Can High Blood Pressure Cause a Heart Attack?

    A heart-healthy diet is vital for helping to reduce high blood pressure. Its also important for managing hypertension that is under control and reducing the risk of complications. These complications include heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

    A heart-healthy diet emphasizes foods that include:

    • fruits
    • lean proteins like fish

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    Who Is At Risk For Developing High Blood Pressure

    Primary hypertension is the most common cause of high blood pressure in adolescents and adults, but is less common in children. Many children with high blood pressure also have adult relatives with hypertension, indicating there may be a hereditary aspect to the disease. There is a higher incidence of high blood pressure in African-American children after the age of 12 and into adulthood. Increased rates of obesity have increased the risk of developing high blood pressure in children.

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    Good Sleep Can Prevent And Manage High Blood Pressure

    Most people experience a dip in blood pressure during the deepest stage of sleep , which is the body’s normal and healthy reaction to sleep. Not having that nighttime dip is a risk factor for heart disease and may increase daytime blood pressure.

    Typically people spend 90 minutes to two hours in slow wave sleep per night. A recent study published in;Hypertension;found that men who got less slow wave sleep each night were a higher risk for hypertension than men who got more deep sleep.

    While sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, and age can both affect the amount of deep sleep you get, there are steps you can take to ensure a good night’s sleep. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and being more active during the day can help improve the quality of your sleep.

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    Who Is Affected By High Blood Pressure

    Approximately 1 in 3, more than 100 million, American adults have high blood pressure. But only half of those people have their condition under control. Many people develop high blood pressure when they are in their late 30s or early 40s, and it occurs more frequently as people age. However, because of the obesity epidemic, more and more children are also developing high blood pressure.

    Hypertension: What You Need To Know As You Age

    TOP 10 Causes Of High Blood Pressure

    You cant see high blood pressure, also called hypertension. And most ofthe time, you cant feel it. But if youre among the 78 million Americanswith hypertension or are one of the 70 million with prehypertension, its important to understandits effects on your healthand to take action today to bring your numbersdown to healthier levels.

    Blood pressure is the force of blood against the inner walls of yourarteries. It has normal fluctuations throughout the dayfalling when yourerelaxed or asleep, rising naturally in the morning, and increasingtemporarily when youre under stress, excited or exercising. But when yourresting blood pressure level rises too high, it can scar, stiffen and/orweaken blood vessels. This effect can double your risk for aheart attack; quadruple your odds for astroke; raise your risk forheart failure, vision loss, kidney problems,dementiaand circulation problems such asperipheral artery disease;weaken your bones; and contribute toerectile dysfunctionin men.

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    Eating Too Much Sodium

    Regularly eating too much sodium is known to increase your risk of hypertension. Americans seem to over-consume salt. The American Heart Association recommends eating less than 1500 mg of salt a day, but on average, Americans eat over 3400 mg daily! Reducing that by just 1000 mg can have great benefits.

    Long-term, high-salt intake can increase your risk for stroke, heart problems, and other health issues. Older adults, African Americans, and people with diabetes or kidney problems may need to aim for even lower salt intake than the 1500 mg per day recommendation, as research shows that blood pressure in these groups tends to respond more strongly to salt.

    If you regularly consume a lot of salt, lowering your salt intake can help to lower your risk for hypertension and other heart problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a great guide to help you here.

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