High Blood Pressure Levels

Can Cause Serious Health Problems

Health professionals measure your blood pressure in millimeters of mercury. A high systolic blood pressure level is any number greater than 140. A high diastolic blood pressure level is any measurement bigger than 90. People who have measurements above these numbers, over two or more successive screenings, have stage one hypertension. Stage two hypertension is a diastolic measurement above 100 and a systolic blood pressure level of more than 160. People who have stage two hypertension at at serious risk and require immediate medical attention.

Causes And Symptoms:

High blood pressure levels do not always have a known cause, nor will an individual with high blood pressure levels necessarily notice any symptoms. Consequently, hypertension is often described as the "silent killer". In fact a person can have high blood pressure levels for several years without even realizing it. The only way to establish whether or not you have hypertension is by having regular blood pressure measurements taken.

It is not until a person develops stage two hypertension that they begin to notice that anything is really amiss. A person with highly elevated blood pressure may notice an acute headache, queasiness, weakness and blurred vision. If you notice any of these symptoms and you know or suspect that you might have hypertension, go to the nearest emergency medical centre immediately.

The Risks:

If hypertension is left unchecked it can do serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes and kidneys. People with high blood pressure levels, that do not get the required treatment, are at very high risk of eye damage, stroke, aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, or even death. Therefore, a regular blood pressure check from your health professional, to determine the levels, is a very important personal responsibility to ensure that you have a healthy, vibrant lifestyle. 

Various Types of Treatment:

If you have two or more successive tests that indicate you have hypertension, then there is a great deal that you can immediately do to help yourself. A healthy low-fat diet and regular exercise are amongst the first actions that can help to lower your blood pressure. Even a moderate amount of weight loss can help correct the problem of hypertension. You should also make a very strong effort to consume less salt, cut down on alcohol and if you have a smoking habit, then stop immediately. You may be surprised at the results of such actions after a very short time! 

There are various medications available to treat high blood pressure levels. Diuretics are helpful for people with stage one hypertension, because they reduce the amount of sodium in the bloodstream and decrease the blood volume. Your health care professional may also prescribe calcium channel blockers, which lower high blood pressure levels by slackening the muscles of the artery walls. Beta blockers are another option as they lower the heart rate and decrease the strength of the heart contractions, which relieves some of the pressure build up. Then there are ACE inhibitors which inhibit a hormone called angiotensin, which is a chemical that makes the blood vessels tighten and could therefore exacerbate any hypertension condition. You should discuss all options with you health professional, before embarking on any treatment.

It is also important to note that many of these medications and drugs only relieve the symptom, but do not get to the actual underlying cause. If you have a high blood pressure condition, you should also undertake to research the condition and better understand it. It is quite possible to lower high blood pressure by natural remedies and thus relieve the condition without further treatment.  Always make sure that you consult your doctor before beginning any treatment or program. Remember, that all medications and drugs are expensive and you owe it to yourself, to investigate all the alternatives. By engaging in a natural treatment program, you could be amazed at the difference it may make in lowering your blood pressure!

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