Cardiovascular

What Is High Blood Pressure? What Causes High Blood Pressure?

Cardiovascular Health, New Orleans reported. *Pregnancy - pregnant women have a higher risk of developing hypertension than women of the same age who are not pregnant. It is the most common medical problem encountered during pregnancy, complicating 2% to 3% of all pregnancies. Most countries divide hypertensive disorders in pregnancy into four categories: 1. Chronic hypertension, 2. Preeclampsia-eclampsia, 3. Preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension. 4. Gestational hypertension. How is high blood pressure diagnosed? *Sphygmomanometer Most lay people have seen this device. It consists of an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the upper arm. When the cuff is inflated it restricts the blood flow. A mercury or mechanical manometer measures the pressure. A sphygmomanometer is always used together with a means to determine at what pressure blood flow is just starting, and at what pressure it is unimpeded. For example, a manual sphygmomanometer is used together with a stethoscope. *The cuff is placed snugly and smoothly around the upper arm, at approximately the same altitude as the heart while the patient is sitting up with the arm supported (resting on something). It is crucial that the size of the cuff is appropriate. If it is too small the reading will be inaccurately high; if it is too large the reading will be too low. *The cuff is inflated until the artery is completely obstructed (occluded). *The nurse, doctor, or whoever is doing the examination listens with a stethoscope to the brachial artery at the elbow and slowly releases the cuff"s pressure (deflates it). *As the cuffs pressure falls the examiner will hear a whooshing sound or a pounding sound when blood flow starts again. *The pressure at the point when the sound began is noted down and recorded as the systolic blood pressure. *The cuff is deflated further until no sound can be heard. At this point the examiner notes down and records the diastolic blood pressure. With a digital sphygmomanometer everything is done with electrical sensors. *Hypertension confirmation requires several readings One blood pressure reading is not enough to diagnose hypertension in a patient. People"s blood pressure can vary during the day, a visit to the doctor may spike the reading because the patient is anxious or stressed, having just eaten may also temporarily affect blood pressure readings. As the definition of hypertension is defined as "repeatedly elevated blood pressure" the GP (general practitioner, primary care physician) will have to take several readings over a set period. This may require three separate measurements one week apart - often the monitoring goes on for much longer before a diagnosis is confirmed. On some rare occasions, if the blood pressure is extremely high, or end-organ damage is present, diagnosis may be made immediately so that treatment can start promptly. End-organ damage generally refers to damage to major organs fed by the circulatory system, such as the heart, kidneys, brain or eyes. *Kidney disorder - if the patient has a urinary tract infection, urinates frequently, or reports pain down the side of the abdomen, they could be signs/symptoms of a kidney disorder. If the doctor places the stethoscope on the side of the abdomen and hears the sound of a rush of blood (a bruit), it could be a sign of stenosis - a narrowing of an artery supplying the kidney. The doctor may also order the following tests: *Urine and blood tests - underlying causes might be due to cholesterol, high potassium levels, blood sugar, infection, kidney malfunction, etc. Protein or blood in urine may indicate kidney damage. High glucose in the blood may indicate diabetes. *Exercise stress test - more commonly used for patients with borderline hypertension. This usually involves pedaling a stationary bicycle or walking on a treadmill. The stress test assesses how the body"s cardiovascular system responds to increased physical activity. If the patient has hypertension this data is important to know before the exercise test starts. The test monitors the electrical activity of the heart, as well as the patient"s blood pressure during exercise. An exercise stress test sometimes reveals problems that are not apparent when the body is resting. Imaging scans of the heart"s blood supply might be done at the same time. *ECG (electrocardiogram) - this tests the heart"s electrical activity. This test is more commonly used for patients at high risk of heart problems, such as hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels. The initial ECG is called a baseline. Subsequent ECGs may be compared with the baseline to reveal changes which may point to coronary artery disease or thickening of the heart wall. *Holter monitoring - the patient carries an ECG portable device for about 24 hours. *Echocardiogram - this device uses ultrasound waves which show the heart in motion. The doctor will be able to detect problems, such as thickening of the heart wall, defective heart valves, blood clots, and excessive fluid around the heart. What is the treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension)? Treatment for hypertension depends on several factors, such its severity, associated risks of developing stroke or cardiovascular, disease, etc. *Slightly elevated blood pressure The doctor may suggest some lifestyle changes if the patient"s blood pressure is only slightly elevated and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease considered to be small. *Moderately high blood pressure If the patient"s blood pressure is moderately high and the doctors believes the risk of developing cardiovascular disease during the next ten years is above 20%, the patient will probably be prescribed medication and advised on lifestyle changes. *Severe hypertension If blood pressure levels are 180/110 mmHg or higher, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist (cardiologist). Changes in lifestyle that can help lower high blood pressure *Regular exercise - exercising for 30 to 60 minutes five days a week will usually lower a person"s blood pressure by 4 to 9 mmHg. If you embark on an exercise program you should see the benefits fairly soon - within a matter of two to three weeks, especially if you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle for a long time. It is important to make sure you check with your doctor before embarking on any physical activity program. Exercise needs to be tailored to the needs and health of the patient. The secret of getting success out of exercise is to do it regularly. Exercising at weekends and doing nothing from Monday to Friday will be much less effective. *Reducing alcohol consumption - alcohol consumption is a double-edged sword. Some studies indicate it helps lower blood pressure, while others report the opposite. In very small amounts it may lower blood pressure. But if you drink too much, even moderate amounts regularly in some cases, blood pressure levels may go up. People who drink more than moderate amounts of alcohol regularly virtually always experience elevated blood pressure levels. *Eating healthily - this means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, good quality unrefined carbohydrates, vegetable oils, and omega oils. If you eat animal products make sure all the fat is trimmed and avoid processed meats. *Lowering salt (sodium) intake - studies have shown that even a moderate reduction in sodium intake can lower blood pressure levels by 2 to 8 mmHg. A study found that most Americans who are diagnosed with hypertension still consume more than the recommended levels of salt. Study leader, Umed Ajani, an epidemiologist with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Promotion, said "Perhaps the most striking finding is that no difference in sodium intake was observed between those who received advice and those who did not." A report published in March, 2009 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, suggests that 7 in every 10 adult Americans should limit their sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day (about 2/3 of a teaspoon of salt). The report estimated that 145 million Americans - 70% of the adult population - have one of three risk factors for hypertension. *Losing weight - studies have revealed that even moderate weight loss - just ten pounds - can have a significant impact in lowering elevated blood pressure. If you are overweight, the nearer you get to your ideal weight the more your blood pressure is likely to fall. Any high blood pressure medications you are taking will become more effective when you lose weight. Reducing your waistline will have the greatest effect. Achieving your ideal body weight involves a combination of exercise, good diet, and at least 7 hours good quality sleep each night. Keeping a food diary can double weight loss as part of a managed program, scientists at Kaiser Permanente"s Center for Health Research discovered. *Lowering caffeine consumption - there are scores of studies that report on whether caffeine has an impact on blood pressure. As many of them have conflicting conclusions it is understandable that people become exasperated. Habitual coffee drinking is not linked to an increased risk of hypertension in women, although a link was found with sugared or diet colas , reported researchers from Brigham and Women"s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health. Researchers found that healthy adults who drank two cans a day of a popular energy drink experienced an increase in their blood pressure and heart rate. The researchers, from Henry Ford Hospital believe the caffeine and taurine levels in energy drinks could be responsible for increases in blood pressure and heart rate. All researchers agree on one thing: Excessive caffeine consumption is not good for people who have hypertension. Therefore, it would be wise to keep an eye on your caffeine consumption. Remember that caffeine is present in most coffees, many teas, sodas (carbonated drinks), chocolates,

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