BLOOD PRESSURE - WHAT DOES IT MEAN

BLOOD PRESSURE   -    WHAT DOES IT MEAN.

Every day we hear about things like high and low blood pressure. But what does it actually mean.

Blood pressure is the result of two forces.
    
1.        from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system,   and
2.        the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow.

A blood pressure reading of     120 over 80   is normal.  
If the person is active this reading may be   110 over 70   and would be considered normal.

Simply put the blood flowing through the body should not be OVERworking the heart to do so while at the same time there needs to be a certain amount of resistance from the arteries to keep an equilibrium.  Everything in the body needs to work in balance.

The higher number, or SYSTOLIC PRESSURE, represents the pressure exerted when the heart is beating. Always stated first.
The lower number, or DIASTOLIC PRESSURE, represents the pressure exerted when the heart is at rest between beats.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, mm Hg.

 
THE SILENT KILLER

High blood pressure is often termed the   SILENT KILLER   because it usually has no symptoms.
Many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it.
The only way to find out if you have elevated blood pressure is to have it checked.  Again this can be done at a wellness clinic at the cost of about R50.00.

When high blood pressure persists without treatment, the heart must work harder to pump enough blood and oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
When the heart is over-worked for extended periods of time the heart tends to enlarge and weaken.
The arteries also suffer becoming scarred, hardened and less elastic.

Hypertension  or high blood pressure is defined as an adult having a reading of   140 and higher over 90 mm Hg.


CAUSES OF HYPERTENSION

The cause of high blood pressure is largely unknown.  There are certain risk factors that increase your risk of developing hypertension.

Heredity                        Individuals whose parents have/had HBP are more at risk
Race                              Caucasians are less likely to develop hypertension
Males                            Men have a greater chance of developing  HBP than women until age 55.
                                      However at age 75 and over women are more likey to develop HBP than men.
Salt sensitivity
Obesity and overweight
Heavy alcohol consumption
Sedentary lifestyle
Diabetes or individuals with gout or kidney disease
Age                                     the older people get, the more prone to HBP
Some medications        increase blood pressure others may interfere with the effectiveness of
                                     antihypertensive drugs.