The best source of high blood pressure information is your physician. Each time you visit your doctor, a nurse will take your “vital signs;” your pulse, heartbeat, and blood pressure.  Your doctor will be informed of your vital signs and if your blood pressure is elevated, this is something the two of you will discuss.

However, if your visits to your physician are limited, you may not realize that you have high blood pressure, also called “hypertension,” until it’s too late and you’ve suffered a stroke or heart attack that could have been avoided if you’d had essential high blood pressure information sooner.  Your health is your responsibility; you should attain information on various health conditions so you’ll know the signs and symptoms of diseases that could be life-threatening or could seriously diminish the overall quality of your life.  Most drug stores have free pamphlets on high blood pressure information and other conditions.  Next time you’re in your neighborhood drug store, pick up these pamphlets and keep them handy to educate yourself on health matters.

What Kind Of High Blood Pressure Information Do You Need?

First, you need to know what high blood pressure/hypertension is.  Briefly, hypertension is a medical condition in which constricted (smaller, tighter) blood vessels increase a resistance to blood flow, causing a dangerous increase in the blood pressure of these vessel walls.  Your heart must work harder to pump blood through these smaller arteries and vessels. The essential information about high blood pressure that you need to know is that if this condition continues, you’re at great risk for stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.  Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it rarely shows overt signs of its presence until it’s too late to prevent these life-threatening conditions. Hypertension affects at least 20% of Americans; only about one-third even know they have it.

Additional information about high blood pressure that you need to know is how your blood pressure is determined.  When you visit your doctor, the nurse straps a cuff to your upper arm, inflates it and then measures the numbers generated by this machine, called a “sphygmomanometer.”  You’ll see your blood pressure indicated by two numbers, one over the other.  The top number is your “systolic” pressure that measures pressure as your heart contracts to pump out blood.  “Diastolic” pressure measures the pressure as your heart relaxes to allow blood to flow back into your heart.  For adults, the normal range of blood pressure is about 120/80.  Further information about high blood pressure that you should know is that when your systolic pressure rises to 140, you do have hypertension!  If your systolic pressure reaches 160 or over, you have “stage two” hypertension, a serious condition that is life-threatening.

When you ask your physician for information about high blood pressure’s causes, he/she will tell you that scientists are still unclear about the causes of hypertension.  In 95% of cases, no clear cause can be identified. How are you supposed to avoid it if you don’t know what causes it?  It’s suspected that genetic factors may play a part in developing hypertension.  Your physician will ask you for information about high blood pressure in your family.  Other factors that may contribute to developing hypertension are too much salt, physical inactivity, obesity, and heavy alcohol use.

You’re never too young to seek information about high blood pressure.  Hypertension is a very “treatable” condition once it’s been identified.

Women tend to worry about hypertension and high blood pressure for the men in their lives. They neglect to consider the causes of hypertension and high blood pressure that can affect them. Yet heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women. There are several risk factors for hypertension and high blood pressure that women should be aware of.

The Connection With Cholesterol

There is a major connection between cholesterol and hypertension, or high blood pressure. Cholesterol does help your body, but too much dietary cholesterol can lead to many different forms of heart disease. It adheres to your arteries and bonds with the calcium in your blood stream, causing your arteries to harden.

This hardening increases hypertension, or high blood pressure, as the elasticity of the veins and arteries is lost. Many women who have high cholesterol have no clue that it puts them at risk for blood pressure problems as well. Cholesterol reducing medications and lifestyle changes often has a positive impact on the attempt to lower high blood pressure.

Women Often Ignore Their Heart

Women often ignore the problem of hypertension and high blood pressure. They consider heart problems to be a man’s disease, and ignore the state of their own heart. High blood pressure makes the heart over work itself, causing it to become strained, which can lead to hear attack. Clogged arteries can lead to a stroke. These are very serious medical conditions, so women need to be aware of the dangers of hypertension. Having no clue about heart health is a major risk factor for women.

Diet and Weight

Diet and weight are the third risk factor for hypertension and high blood pressure in women. Many women are overweight, and being overweight can cause a rise in blood pressure. Today’s American diet is not healthy, so unless a woman is actively controlling her diet, she is at risk for high blood pressure. Sodium is prevalent in many of our convenience foods, and sodium increases blood pressure. Being aware of your body weight and diet helps you to have a healthy heart.

Lack of Physical Activity

The final risk factor that indicates a woman is at risk for hypertension and high blood pressure is a lack of physical activity. Today’s woman is a career woman, mom, and wife, all at the same time.

Will all of the roles women play today it is hard to find time to exercise. But exercise is one of the best things you can do to lower your risk for hypertension. Try to incorporate at least thirty minutes of exercise five times a week for ultimate heart health.

High blood pressure is an extremely common ailment – some sources suggest that at least 1 in 3 Americans are afflicted with the disease. Unfortunately, there are not many observable symptoms of high blood pressure; most people who suffer from the disease only find out because a routine check shows their blood pressure is abnormally high.

Patients may have high blood pressure for many years without being diagnosed, and if left untreated high blood pressure can lead to many serious consequences, including heart attack, kidney failure and stroke.

Blood pressure is made up of two components (represented by the two numbers e.g., 150 / 80) systolic blood pressure is the top number and measures the amount of force with which the blood will hit the artery walls. High systolic blood pressure then, indicates that blood is hitting the artery wall with a force greater than what is normal or healthy. The bottom number, generally lower, is called diastolic. This number indicates the level of force exerted between beats of the heart, essentially the level of blood pressure during rest.

Relation of High Systolic Blood Pressure and Diastolic Blood Pressure

High systolic blood pressure appears to be more associated with negative consequences in older or middle aged patients. It is especially predictive of negative heart events, myocardial infarction, etc. High systolic blood pressure can be problematic even when diastolic pressure is relatively low, a condition called isolated systolic hypertension (or high blood pressure).

In fact this type of high systolic blood pressure is the most common form of high blood pressure in those over age 50. High diastolic blood pressure is more predictive of problems in younger adults.

The difference between the two numbers is one way to diagnose the likelihood of suffering negative consequences. In general the greater the gap between systolic and diastolic, the worse patient outcomes are. Additionally, number guidelines are available. High systolic blood pressure is categorized as a systolic pressure greater than or equal to 140.

Treating high systolic blood pressure is absolutely essential for maintaining good health. Several options are available, including lifestyle and diet changes like reducing fat and sodium intake, reducing stress levels, and exercising more frequently. Additionally, most patients with high systolic blood pressure can be treated effectively with one of a variety of prescription medications. Receiving proper treatment can help alleviate or eliminate most negative consequences of high systolic blood pressure

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of a person’s arteries when the heart beats; the first of the two numbers rendered are that of the systolic pressure, and this measures the pressure in the arteries at the time the heart is beating. The second number is that of the diastolic pressure, measuring the pressure in the arteries between heart beats. For those under age 55 a high diastolic blood pressure is considered dangerous.

In patients under age 55 physicians focus more on the diastolic number but it has been found as people get older high diastolic blood pressure will go down and the systolic number will increase. However, a lowering of the high diastolic blood pressure does not mean a person no longer is considered to have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is responsible for many maladies including heart attack, stoke, blindness and kidney failure. With that in mind controlling blood pressure become paramount to prevention of these problems. Keeping tabs on a high diastolic blood pressure is important when young to prevent further complication as you age.

Blood Pressure Changes Daily

Throughout the day a person’s blood pressure changes as daily life and activity affects a person. Normal blood pressure is considered to be 120 over 80 and a daily average reaching those numbers is expected. However, a blood pressure reading of up to 140 systolic and up to 90 diastolic is considered pre-hypertensive. It is not considered to be high blood pressure, but the person is at risk for developing high blood pressure.

Patients on the border are sometimes prescribed to wear a blood pressure monitor for a 24-hour period to the physician can develop a better average reading to determine the probability of developing high blood pressure.

Those with systolic pressure of over 140 and high diastolic blood pressure over 90 are considered to have high blood pressure. There are many factors contributing to high blood pressure, including diet and exercise, but many believe the main contributing factor to be hereditary. If a parent or both parents had high blood pressure, the chances are increased that you will also develop it.

The high diastolic blood pressure reading in younger people indicates the arteries are under constant pressure,, even between beats of the heart. A lower number is desirable as the pressure is not so great being exerted onto the arterial walls. Later in life the systolic pressure will probably increase and any thinning or hardening of the arteries will not be able to take the pressure possibly causing heart attack or stroke.

They say that high blood pressure is the silent killer. They say this because you really don’t know if you have high blood pressure unless you get checked by your doctor. However, if unchecked, and you do, in fact, have high blood pressure, it could cause major problems, even death. For this reason, you want to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

Can Be Caused By Many Reasons

High blood pressure can be caused by a variety of reasons. Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and others can be major factors in high blood pressure. Ask your doctor what you can do to bring your high blood pressure down to a more manageable level.

Sometimes, if your blood pressure is too high, your doctor will prescribe some medication. Your doctor will let you know what the best medication is for your particular form of high blood pressure.

Of course, prevention is the best way to keep from getting high blood pressure in the first place. You should try to get some exercise at least three times per week. This will keep your heart working and will make it strong. Your diet should be as low in saturated fats as possible to prevent bad cholesterol from clogging your arteries. Also, you should try a stress management course if stress seems to be a constant problem in your life. All of these things can prevent high blood pressure from showing up in the first place.

Sometimes, however, you can get high blood pressure even though you eat right, get plenty of exercise and don’t feel stressed at all. That’s because, sometimes, high blood pressure is genetic. That means that it runs in your family. If it does indeed run in your family, you should get regular checkups so that you can make sure your blood pressure is at the correct levels before a problem arises.

To find out how your blood pressure measures up, schedule a checkup with your doctor. It’s a good idea, even if you feel healthy. After all, they don’t call it the silent killer for nothing. Get regular checkups and try to live as healthy as you can and, hopefully, your blood pressure will never get to unmanageable levels. It should be noted, however, that just because the levels may be high, it does not necessarily mean that it’s a death sentence, it just means you have to be more careful about your lifestyle choices.

Mention to friends or co-workers that you have a problem with your blood pressure, and virtually 100% of those people will assume that you’re referring to high blood pressure, also called hypertension; 20% of Americans suffer from hypertension.

This is a chronic, life-threatening condition that, if left untreated, will very likely result in stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure. However, most people never consider that low blood pressure is equally as dangerous as high blood pressure.

How is High and Low Blood Pressure Detected?

Every time you visit your physician, a nurse will take your “vital signs;” pulse, temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.  High and low blood pressure is identified with an instrument called a “sphygmomanometer.” There are two measurements that describe blood pressure: the “top” number is your systolic pressure that occurs when your heart contracts to pump out blood.

The “bottom” number is your diastolic pressure that occurs when your heart relaxes to allow blood to flow back into it. A normal adult blood pressure reading is about 120/80.  If either you have either high or low blood pressure, it is cause for concern.

What is High and Low Blood Pressure? 

High blood pressure is called “hypertension,” while low blood pressure is called “hypotension.” High and low blood pressure has vastly different causes; hypertension is caused by heredity, excessive salt and alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and obesity. With lifestyle and diet changes along with anti-hypertensive medications, high blood pressure can be controlled and returned to a normal rate before it becomes life-threatening.

Hypotension, or low blood pressure, mostly occurs in older adults, especially if you’re already taking medication for hypertension. High and low blood pressure is often inter-related. Your treatment for high blood pressure may be very successful in reducing your systolic pressure.

But the price for this success may be a dangerous lowering of your diastolic pressure. There are two symptoms of low blood pressure: dizziness and loss of consciousness. These symptoms can be dangerous primarily due to falls when you pass out on your feet. High and low blood pressure does not occur at the same time.

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is often caused by over-medication for high blood pressure. One treatment, then, is to decrease your dose of hypertension medication.  If your diastolic and systolic pressures remain within normal limits, problem solved. Both high and low blood pressure can result from side effects of other medications.

Your physician should evaluate all your medications to determine if this is happening to you.  Changing your other medications to different classes and/or doses of drugs may result in another problem solved.

High and low blood pressure can also result from surgical procedures. Some anesthetics and pain medications can dangerously raise or lower your blood pressure. As you recover from surgery, your blood pressure will be carefully monitored. Low blood pressure post-surgery is most often caused by internal bleeding.

To determine if this is the case, you’ll have an ultrasound procedure to pinpoint the area of bleeding so it can be corrected. Hypotension due to post-surgery internal bleeding is one of the risks of any type of surgery. To correct this condition you may require a blood transfusion to raise your diastolic pressure.

The effects of high blood pressure truly affect every area of the body, from head to toe. Many people think of the effects of high blood pressure on the heart only, and although that is definitely a problem, high blood pressure does still have massive effects on the rest of the body as well, and this can certainly not be forgotten.

Effects on the Brain

One of the effects of high blood pressure on the brain is that in regards to having a higher risk of stroke. In fact, high blood pressure is considered as being one of the leading indications that you are at risk to have a stroke. The blood vessels are weakened when you have high blood pressure, and if they break, they can bleed in your brain, which leads to one form of stroke.

High blood pressure can be caused by hardening of the arteries, and if the arteries become clogged and block the flow of blood to the brain, this can also cause a life-threatening stroke.

Effect on the Eyes

Yes, there are effects of high blood pressure in regards to the eyes as well. In fact, blood pressure that gets too high can cause the blood vessels that are in the eye to burst. If they do, your vision will become blurred. This condition can eventually lead to permanent blindness.

Effect on the Arteries

Effects of high blood pressure on the arteries are also highly publicized; it is natural for the arteries to harden as the body ages. Add to that high blood pressure, which leads to more hardening of the arteries, and you have a very dangerous condition. Hardened arteries make both the heart and the kidneys have to work harder, which can thus cause them to wear out. Hardened arteries can lead to heart attack, kidney failure, and stroke.

Effects on the Kidneys

One of the effects of high blood pressure is that in regards to the body eventually leading to kidney failure. The kidneys are the filters of the blood, and as high blood pressure causes the arteries to harden, it can cut off the flow of blood to the kidneys. When not enough blood flows in and out of the kidneys, waste builds up in the blood, which can lead to kidney failure.

Effects on the Heart

Heart problems are probably the most obvious effects of high blood pressure. The arteries that can harden with high blood pressure bring oxygen filled blood to the heart. Without this blood, the heart cannot get enough oxygen. The first symptom will be pain in the chest, and if the blockages are not corrected, heart attacks occur. Also, high blood pressure can lead to congestive heart failure, where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.

High blood pressure is an extremely common ailment – some sources suggest that at least 1 in 3 Americans are afflicted with the disease. Unfortunately, there are not many observable symptoms of high blood pressure, most people who suffer from the disease only find out because a routine check shows their blood pressure is abnormally high.

Patients may have high blood pressure for many years without being diagnosed, and if left untreated high blood pressure can lead to many serious consequences, including heart attack, kidney failure and stroke.

Fortunately, there are effective ways of treating high blood pressure. These include a number of options and techniques, one of which will certainly work for most patients.

Treating High Blood Pressure: Drug Therapy

The most common way of treating high blood pressure is with prescription medications. There are a variety of different types of drugs available, and because high blood pressure is a common ailment, new drugs are being developed all of the time.

In the vast majority of cases, doctors can develop a regimen for treating high blood pressure, however finding just the right combination of drug, dosage amount and dosage schedule can be a challenge. Initial treatment often requires a lot of experimenting and follow up testing, so be prepared for a delay in finding the right drug / combination of drugs for you.

Treating High Blood Pressure: Lifestyle Changes

Three major areas of habits can impact high blood pressure, and therefore can be crucial for treating high blood pressure: diet, exercise and stress. A diet high in fats (especially saturated and trans-fats) leads to clogging of the arteries – restricting artery size increases blood pressure and also causes tissues inside arteries to tear.

In fact, reducing fat intake (including eliminating all fried foods) may be the single more important lifestyle change for treating high blood pressure.

Increasing exercise can also help alleviate blood pressure. Increased exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Further, temporarily increasing blood flow can help reduce the restriction in arteries caused by poor diet.

Finally, reducing stress may also be useful in treating high blood pressure. There are many stress reduction techniques to consider and consulting a professional is probably your best bet to decide which would work best for you. Some options include meditation, yoga, exercise and visualization and hypnosis. Some people have also reported success with biofeedback.

There are no medications that simply popped into existence out of nowhere.  If no one had bothered to ask “What’s this mold on my cheese?” we wouldn’t now have penicillin.  While drugs and medications are, in the end, made in laboratories, these compounds originated in natural herbs; plants, stems, bark, seeds, leaves and roots.  The best example of this kind of natural remedy is “digoxin,” the drug of choice for heart maladies, made from the foxglove plant.

When considering a natural remedy for high blood pressure, it’s known that herbal remedies are gentler on your body and are less likely to have nasty side effects.  However, you must talk with your physician before using a natural remedy for high blood pressure, since these products are slow-acting and their benefits make take weeks or months to take effect.  If you have uncontrolled serious hypertension, a natural remedy for high blood pressure may not be a wise choice.

What Natural Remedies Are Used For Treating High Blood Pressure?

Garlic is well-known among herbal medicine practitioners to be effective in treating a large variety of health problems such as heart disease, infections, inflammations, and hypertension.  Many people take a garlic supplement every day to increase their over-all good health.  Research indicates that three chemicals in garlic are helpful in treating hypertension: alliin, allinase, and allicin.  These three chemical “cousins” appear to have many beneficial effects on blood circulation explaining why garlic is a natural remedy for high blood pressure.  Caution: do not use garlic if you’re taking a blood-thinning drug such as warfarin; garlic will interfere with its action.  Herbalists recommend 300 mgs of garlic (in capsules) three times a day.  To use fresh garlic, try one clove per day.

Coleus is not only a natural remedy for high blood pressure, it’s also used to treat asthma, eczema, psoriasis and angina.  The active ingredient in the coleus plant is forskolin, a chemical that relaxes muscles and is a natural antihistamine.  Talk with your physician before you try coleus; it should not be used in combination with prescription medications for high blood pressure.  Nor should it be used if you’re taking warfarin.  It should not be taken by pregnant women as it can cause uterine bleeding and miscarriage.

Hawthorn is very popular among herbalists as a natural remedy for high blood pressure.  It’s also used to treat heart disease and angina. Hawthorn contains a complex mix of chemicals that, together, improves the heart’s pumping ability.  Heart action is directly related to hypertension.  Consult your physician before using Hawthorn; it may take several weeks to take effect and this may not be time you can afford to wait if your high blood pressure needs to be lowered very quickly to prevent a heart attack or stroke.  If your physician approves, try Hawthorn capsules, 100-300 mgs two or three times daily.  To use a tincture of Hawthorn as a natural remedy for high blood pressure, take one teaspoon three times daily.  Caution: a tincture is a preparation of herbs mixed and stabilized with alcohol.  If you’re in recovery from alcoholism, do NOT use a tincture.

The savory and highly-medicinal olive leaf is used as a natural remedy for high blood pressure, infections, herpes, colds, and hepatitis.  Olive leaves contain oleuropein, a chemical that has been demonstrated to kill bacteria and lower blood pressure. For more than 6,000 years, olive leaves have been prized for their medicinal properties.  They have no known side-effects. Try one 250 mg capsule twice a day for hypertension.

Stevia leaves are not only natural sweeteners, they are also used as a natural remedy for high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels in diabetics.  Herbalists believe that more research on stevia must be completed before it becomes a “standard” treatment. The active ingredient in stevia is stevioside, a super-sweetener that contains no calories.  For hypertension, stevia can reduce blood pressure too quickly, and you should use it only with a physician’s approval.  Use no more than 1,000 mgs daily.

Many people with high blood pressure want to know what kind of high blood pressure treatments are available to them. Many people don’t know how to get their blood pressure down to more manageable levels once they’re told they have high blood pressure. The fact is, the best high blood pressure treatment is prevention. That is, not getting high blood pressure in the first place is the best thing you can do for your body. That means getting some exercise, eating right and relieving stress in your life. If you do, in fact, have high blood pressure, then doing the above things can also be great high blood pressure treatments. Drugs can also help, as your doctor will help you. However, the best treatment is to prevent your levels from getting too high in the first place.

Lifestyle Changes Can Help

If you do have high blood pressure, there are some things you can do, some lifestyle changes, that can be great high blood pressure treatments. For instance, get some exercise whenever you can. That means walking more instead of driving, playing with your kids, walking your dog, whatever. Get at least twenty to thirty minutes of moderate exercise two to three times per week. This will make your heart stronger and may actually work to decrease your blood pressure.

Improving your diet can also be a great high blood pressure treatment. Stay away from too many saturated fats and eat more fruits, vegetables and fiber. This should be a guideline for anyone, really, but it’s also a great high blood pressure treatment.

If stress seems to be a problem, it can exacerbate your blood pressure levels. Stress relief is a great high blood pressure treatment. Take a stress relief class or enroll in a yoga or Tai Chi class. Whatever you choose, you should choose some activity that causes you to relax more. This will lower your blood pressure and can help you lead a long, healthy life.

Of course, your doctor will probably prescribe some kind of medicine. Medicine can be a great high blood pressure treatment. Ask your doctor if any medications might be right for you. You should have regular checkups anyways to check your levels to make sure that your blood levels are normal. You never know if you have high blood pressure unless you get checkups. So, schedule one with your doctor today so that, hopefully, you can prevent your blood pressure from getting too high in the first place.