BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure is force exerted by circulating blood on walls of blood vessels or can also be explained as pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is created due to two types of forces one is the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow and other is created by heart as it pumps blood into arteries and through circulatory system. Sphygmomanometer is the instrument most commonly used for measuring blood pressure.

Systolic higher pressure is the pressure in the arteries when heart contracts to pump blood to the body. Diastolic lower is pressure when heart relaxes between beats. Pulse pressure refers to difference between the maximum and minimum pressures recorded. Approximately 120mmHg systolic and 80mmHg diastolic is optimal blood pressure for adults. Hypertension means blood pressure being abnormally high and hypotension is abnormally low pressure.

High blood pressure has no symptoms and getting blood pressure regularly checked is the only way to find out. A home blood pressure monitoring kit may assist in finding out the low or high blood pressure. Though medical sciences have not been able to reach up to the causes for high blood pressure but some of the major factors contributing to high blood pressure are hereditary, increasing ages, male sex, inactive lifestyle, high consumption of alcohol, obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, kidney diseases, sodium sensitivity, oral contraceptives, diet pills, steroids, ibuprofen and many other medications.
Antihypertensives, beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium antagonists and vasodilators are group of drugs used to lower high blood pressure.

High blood pressure makes one prone to heart attacks, eye damage, strokes, kidney failure, heart failure and atherosclerotic plaques. If high blood pressure is not treated, heart will have to work harder to pump blood and oxygen enough to body organs. This will make heart enlarged and weaker. High blood pressure may hurt arteries and arterioles and make them less elastic.

Some of the ways to control high blood pressure are to get regular blood pressure checkup, avoid salty food, proper medications, being physically active, reducing alcohol intake, loosing excess weight and eating healthy diet low in fat and cholesterol.

Some people have misconceptions that those below 30 can’t have high blood pressure but its not true, even young people and teens suffer from high blood pressure. Body size, age and degree of sexual maturation determine blood pressure level in youngsters. Also believing that women don’t have high blood pressure is a myth. Women on pills, overweight, family history, pregnant or postmenopausal are at risk of high blood pressure.