WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
WHAT IS BEST
6 DRUGS
RECOMMENDATIONS/RESOURCES
EXERCISE
RELAXATION/MEDITATION
HYPNOTHERAPY
BREATH THERAPY
HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS
According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. But nearly one-third of those people don't know they have high blood pressure, because it's a silent disease. People can have high blood pressure for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it.
Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). It's measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
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| Blood Pressure Classification |
Systolic Measure (mm Hg) |
Diastolic Measure (mm Hg) |
General Treatment Guidance |
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Normal |
Below 120 | Below 80 | • No treatment needed • Healthy lifestyle encouraged to maintain normal blood pressure |
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Prehypertensive |
120 - 139 | 80 - 89 | • Lifestyle changes needed: weight loss, quitting smoking, low-salt and low-fat diet, moderate alcohol use, and increased exercise • Drug treatment not indicated except if you have diabetes, kidney, or heart disease |
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Stage 1 |
140 - 159 | 90 - 99 | • Lifestyle changes urged, same as above • Drug treatment needed. Doctor may start with one medicine to see if it does the job. |
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Stage2 |
160 or above | 100 or above | • Lifestyle changes urged, same as above • Drug treatment needed. Two or more medicines usually required to bring blood pressure down. |
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Drugs, lifestyle changes and natural methods can all lower blood pressure.
Using lifestyle changes and natural methods can mean:
- Less drugs or no drugs are needed.
- Less drugs lowers the risk of side effects.
High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over age 35. It's particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure as well.
If our blood pressure is higher than 120/80 it is important to take steps to lower it, because untreated high blood pressure can damage organs in our body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss.
It is important to have your blood pressure checked. About 69 percent of people who have a first Heart attack, 77 percent who have a first stroke, and 74 percent who have congestive heart failure have BP higher than 140/90 mm Hg. Also, high blood pressure is the No.1 changeable risk factor for stroke. On average every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. That means about 780,000 Americans will have a stroke this year; about 150,000 of them will die. Stroke is our nation's No.3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms in the early stages.
In later stages Symptoms can include:
Causes of High Blood Pressure
In most cases of high blood pressure, the American Heart Association says there is no one identifiable cause. This kind of high blood pressure is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. It is usually a combination of factors, such as:
- Weight
The greater your body mass, the more pressure there is on your artery walls.
That's because more blood is produced to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues in your body. - Activity level
Lack of physical activity tends to increase heart rate, which forces your heart to work harder with each contraction. - Tobacco use
Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can damage and constrict the arteries. - Sodium intake
Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, especially in people sensitive to sodium. - Potassium intake
Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another. - Stress
Stress can raise blood pressure. - Alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol intake can, over time, increase the risk of heart disease. - Age
The risk of high blood pressure increases with age. - Family history
High blood pressure often runs in families.
High blood pressure can also be caused by an underlying condition, such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, thyroid disease, adrenal gland disease, and the use of certain drugs, such as oral contraceptives. This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension.
Damage to our body
If our blood pressure is higher than 120/80 it is important to take steps to lower it, because untreated high blood pressure can damage organs in our body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss.
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