Posts Tagged 'Hypertension'

High Diastolic Blood Pressure

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 No Commented
Under: Hypertension

Diastolic blood pressure is the lower reading that you get when you take somebody’s BP. It is usually measured in ranges, depending on the individual’s age, sex, position and sometimes health condition.

It is the rhythmic expansion of the chambers of the heart at each heartbeat, during which they fill with blood. Ideally, the Diastolic pressure for a young adult should be around 60 – 85 mmHg, with 90 mmHg considered as borderline.

The reading could get a little higher as the individual’s age increases. This means that the diastolic blood pressure of a man of 60 years and above should be higher than that of a 40 year old, though the variation should not be too much.

High diastolic blood pressure occurs when the reading goes above 90mmHg and remains sustained on repeated checks. When the reading for a man of 40 years goes up to 95 or 100 and above, we can say that the reading is high.

In other word, with the elevated BP we can say that the individual has diastolic hypertension. The difference between this and primary hypertension is that there is a noticeable change in the walls and inside of the arteries in diastolic hypertension.

When the reading is high, and with the changes in the walls of the vessels, the individual is at risk. With such a high reading, the individual could be at the risk of developing a stroke or he could suffer from heart attack. Everything has to be done to prevent a further rise; and also to reduce the already elevated pressure to an acceptable level.

The individual should see the doctor who would in turn prescribe drugs that would help lower the elevated blood pressure. The prescribed drug regimen must be strictly followed if one hopes to get a positive result.

Other ways to lower it also include using a planned programme of exercise and controlled diet to improve the heart and the condition of the blood vessels. Some of the drugs would help to dilate the vessels, while others help to relax the vessels and reduce the frequency of the heart beats.

Certain diets are withdrawn to reduce the rate with which fats are deposited on the walls of the arteries and veins. With the combined therapy, it is easier to lower the elevated blood pressure and the individual could lead a normal life again and without much stress.

Hypertension – The Silent Killer

Sunday, May 9th, 2010 No Commented
Under: Hypertension

Everyone talks about hypertension. Many individuals, groups, communities, health Organizations and other bodies have shown concern and even written about Hypertension. Statistics shows that approximately 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure and this number is expected to increase to 1.56 billion people by the year 2025. That translates to about 1 out of every 4 Adults being afflicted with hypertension. In fact in the United States, recent estimates show that nearly one in three U.S Adults has high blood pressure and because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don’t know they have it. Unfortunately, many may have it for years without even knowing. With this alarming statistics, you will not hesitate to agree with me that there is a call for concern for individuals and groups to treat this case with all seriousness.

Hypertension simply means high blood pressure and in Medical terms a blood pressure of 140/90 is considered hypertension; where 140 is the systolic measurement and 90 represents its diastolic measurement. A person with hypertension has no explicit symptoms and that is why more than 30% of Individuals do not eve know they have it, which makes it even more dangerous and considered a Silent Killer. Nevertheless, extremely high blood pressure may lead to some symptoms such as Fatigue, dizziness, confusion (sometimes), Nausea, severe headaches, problems with vision, breathing disorders, irregular heartbeat. And in very severe cases, you can find blood in Urine after Laboratory analysis.

Causes
The causes of hypertension could be classified into:

1. Primary causes. These are the major risk factors of hypertension in which, even the secondary causes emerge from. These are,
• Fast paced lifestyle leading to Unhealthy diets.
• Lack of exercise
• Tobacco smoking
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
Alcohol consumption
• Stress

Under this category, we could have a physiological risk factor or cause of hypertension which is Age. An ageing Individual has more risk of getting hypertension than a younger one.

2. Secondary causes. These are causes due to the primary causes, most of which results from Tobaccos smoking and unhealthy diets. They include:
• Coronary heart diseases
• Stroke
• Atherosclerosis
• Arteriosclerosis
• Cancer
• Pneumonia
• Diabetes
• Renal failure
• Tumors
• Birth control pills
• High salt intake
• Injury/trauma
• Adrenal and thyroid problems
• Insufficient calcium potassium and magnesium consumption
• Vitamin D deficiency.

Due to its asymptomatic nature, hypertension cannot be clearly diagnosed unless if severe. Hence, a constant check of blood pressure should be done on a regular basis. Also, the more an individual is aging, the more the frequency of checking. The Sphygmomanometer is used to check for blood pressure. You need not wait until it gets to 140/90 before you conclude you have hypertension. Blood pressure between 120/80 to 139/89 is called pre-hypertension (to indicate an increased risk of hypertension) and if you begin to discover such range in values reoccurring, then you will have to see a Doctor.

Treatment
Basically, drugs are used as well as a gradual change in Lifestyle. The major drugs used for the treatment of hypertension are as follows:
• Diuretics (furosemid, dichlothiazid, spironolacton).
• Inhibitors of Angiotensin converting Enzyme (captopril, enalapril, ramipril).
• Antagonists of angiotensin II receptors. For example Losartan.
• B-adrenoblockers (anaprilin, atenolol, thymolol).
• A-adrenoblockers (Labetolol, Carvedilol).
• A-, B-adrenorblockers (prasosine, terasosine).
• Calcium ions antagonists (niphedipine, amlodipine, Verapamil).
• Agonists of A2-adrenoreceptors of central action (clopheline, methyldopa).
• Sympatholytics (reserpin, Octadin).
• Direct vasodilators (molsidomin, hydralasin).
• Imidasolines (moxonidine, rilmenidine).
• Serotonin receptors blockers, for example Ketanserin.
• Monateril (calcium antagonists, A2-adrenoblockers).

So much drugs for hypertension huh! Do not worry about which drugs to use and how to use them. Leave that to the Doctor.

Prevention and conclusion
It is appalling to know that almost 90% of the causes of hypertension are due to our life style. This simply means, the power to reduce the occurrence of hypertension lies in our hands. Is there any need to list the ways of prevention? Glance through the already aforementioned causes once more and then deduce their direct opposites-and that would be the preventive methods of hypertension. Maintain a healthy Life to not just live or exist but to live well.

How to Control Hypertension

Thursday, April 29th, 2010 No Commented
Under: Hypertension

There’s one good saying “Health is Wealth”, well said. Good health in other words is energy, happiness and all of these bring serenity in our life.

Combating with the situations which come in our way and still maintaining health is not an easy task. But nothing is impossible, impossible is the word that itself says “I’m possible”. After all we are human, we have feelings and emotions like happiness, sadness, anger and so on. Everyday we go through these emotions and sometimes we stress ourselves when limit is crossed.

Stress is definitely a cause of hypertension. Every one of us reacts differently to stress. Some of us smoke, take drink, cry, eat too much or less, etc. Because of stress, adrenaline hormone is released which cause vasoconstriction.

What actually is stress?

It’s a strain which we take upon us due to the external or internal factors like:

  • No money, no job. Today’s big problem
  • Job dissatisfaction,
  • Spoilt relationship with superior.
  • Not able to meet the time line.
  • Social stress, pressure of society,
  • Unmarried peoples get loneliness.
  • Poverty.

Stress can be relieved by stress management. Everybody is blessed with some or the other skills, some people are good in painting, some are good in singing, dancing and some good in their colonial hand. Try the things which makes you feel relax.

Other options are also there like:

  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Sports
  • Listening to music
  • Reading

Everybody starting from children to old age population is fond of eating. How many of us can control over eating habits? Hardly any. We like French fries, pizzas, canned food but guess the content of sodium! Our daily requirement of sodium is 1500mg, less than a teaspoon. But two slices of pizza exceed our daily requirement. What happens next? Sodium imbalance, kidney failure, water retention, weight gain, edema, loss of potassium which all are reasons for hypertension.

We can overcome all of these especially by changing our lifestyle. Hypertension can be controlled by DASH (Dietary approaches to stop hypertension) plan and regular regime of workout and control over diet. Eating food containing high potassium like nuts, legumes and lowering sodium intake by avoiding especially canned or preserved food items.

Whenever we are happy we celebrate with a Champagne, which is a must. Social drinking doesn’t impact on our body much. But addiction of alcohol drinking which goes hand in hand with smoking too, does impact. Not much is known about direct relationship between alcohol addiction and hypertension. But studies show that after alcohol consumption it sets on sympathetic activity and vasoconstriction related hormones are released and thus becomes a cause of hypertension.

Alcohol consumption coupled with other disorders like obesity could synergistically affect blood pressure.

Only way to overcome alcohol related hypertension is to quit dependency on alcohol and smoking. Hard to do but not impossible. Engage yourself with family members or some kind of sports or support group which does not remind of drinking and smoking.

These were the ways which we implement in our lives and get rid of hypertension. But to bring down the blood pressure quickly antihypertensive medicines are available.

Some of them are as stated:

  • Diuretics such as bumetanide, epitizide
  • Vasodilators such as sodium nitroprusside
  • Antagonist of adrenaline receptor like timolol, terazosin

Again there is a saying that ignorance is bliss, but in body science ignorance can be life threatening.

High Blood Pressure Statistics

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 No Commented
Under: Hypertension

This article is part of a series, which provides a comprehensive overview of high blood pressure (hypertension) and the serious health risks it presents. If you could eliminate hypertension from your life, would you? Now you can discover THE major high blood pressure cause – a toxin that’s been hidden for more than 50 years. By eliminating it, you can control your hypertension without using prescription drugs. Best of all, you’ll live a healthier, longer life. The American Heart Association states that high blood pressure causes more than 54,000 deaths each year in the U.S. and the World Health Organization estimates the number of deaths worldwide to be more than 7 million.

10 shocking statistics:

According to the American Heart Association, in 2006, hypertension killed 56,561 Americans. Here are more shocking statistics:

  • 74.5 million Americans age 20 and older have hypertension
  • For 90-95 percent of hypertension patients, the cause of the disease is unknown
  • Of those with hypertension, only 77.6 percent of Americans are aware of it
  • Only 67.9 percent of those are being treated for it
  • Only 44.1 percent have it under control
  • 55.9 percent do not have it controlled
  • Between 1996 and 2006 the death rate increased 19.5 percent, and the number of deaths rose by 48.1 percent
  • 2006 death rates per 100,000 Americans: 15.6 for white males, 51.1 for black males, 14.3 for white females and 37.7 for black females
  • 90% of middle-aged Americans will develop hypertension during their lifetime
  • Pregnancy induced hypertension is responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths annually

There were 44.8 million physician office visits in the US for high blood pressure in 2006. The estimated direct and indirect costs will be more than $73 million in 2009. In 2005, hypertension was listed as the primary cause of 57,356 American deaths. But there’s more to that story. For approximately 319,000 American deaths in 2005, hypertension was listed as a primary or contributing cause.

Eliminating high blood pressure is possible with lifestyle changes

There’s no question – high blood pressure is a deadly disease. And in 90-95 percent of the cases, the cause is unknown. However, for many years, some in the medical community have known that one toxin is a major cause of high blood pressure. It contributes to additional health problems as well, and is found in many common food items.

If you suffer from hypertension, making a few lifestyle changes and avoiding this toxin can save your life. These changes are easier and healthier than using a costly high blood pressure treatment that neither eliminates the disease nor the cause. Hypertension can be prevented. If you already have high blood pressure, it can be eliminated. Avoiding the deadly toxin is a great first step toward a healthier, longer life.

Pulmonary Hypertension Prognosis

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 No Commented
Under: Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure in the lungs increases. This disease affects the lungs and be quite dangerous. When the blood pressure in the arteries or veins of the lungs is increased the person experiencing it can suffer a lot of damage. Pulmonary hypertension can be divided into primary pulmonary hypertension and secondary pulmonary hypertension. Primary pulmonary hypertension usually has an unknown cause but is attributed sometimes to genetic factors, an auto immune disease or the use of certain substances. The abuse of several drugs has been linked with the development of this condition. This type of hypertension is very dangerous and mostly affects women younger than 40 years.

Secondary pulmonary hypertension is the type of hypertension that has a known cause such as bronchitis, emphysema and pulmonary embolism. The condition will cause an increased blood flow in the pulmonary artery. This can constrict the blood vessels that lead to the heart which can produce a heart attack. Some symptoms related to this condition are fatigue, chest pain and cough. Another symptom that a person might experience is inflammation of the legs.

The prognosis for pulmonary hypertension is usually poor. This life threatening disease has no known cure yet but there are several treatments available to extend the life expectancy of the patients. One of the treatments is the lung and heart transplant. This is necessary as transplanting the lung alone is not enough to compensate for the damage. The use of anticoagulants is very helpful too for the victims of pulmonary high blood pressure. Anticoagulants prevent the formation of blood clots, helping to ease the strain on the cardiovascular system. Other medications commonly use to treat this disease is the calcium channel blockers and vasodilators. Calcium channel blockers assist in opening the vascular smooth muscles in the lungs. The vasodilators trigger a reaction in the cells to expand the blood vessels and in consequence lower the blood pressure.
Mexican pharmacy generic viagra
Some exercise can also be done in order to improve the life of the patient. Exercising should only be done in a moderate amount and with the approval of the doctor. The early detection of the disease is critical in order ensure a greater life expectancy for the victim. Treatment for the condition can help in adding a couple of years to the life of the patient. Living a healthy life style, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly can help in preventing difficult diseases.