What is Hypertension, An Overview For The Average Person
The quantity of blood pumped by the heart and the degree of resistance of a person's arteries to the blood flow represent the blood pressure.
Fluctuations of that blood pressure are normal in 24 hours, because every new heart beat can change something; when you are active, the blood pressure is higher and it lowers when you are resting.
Hypertension represents high blood pressure. It may appear anytime, without announcing its presence by means of signs and symptoms. It is a very frequent disease, which affects 50 million Americans, from which only 70% of them know that they are hypertensives.
High blood pressure is more dangerous than many people think, because it may lead to severe complications when it escapes our control. But it is easy to diagnose and to work with your healthcare professional to keep at safe levels.
At least once in 24 months you absolutely need to have your blood pressure checked. The frequency of the necessary checking and rechecking is in close relationship with your previous readings of blood pressure, another conditions or an increased predisposition for heart-disease. The doctor is the one that can tell how often you should have your blood pressure checked.
During the day, it is normal for a person's blood pressure to have fluctuations. There are also situations in which many people have white-coat hypertension, that represent an increase of the blood pressure when the doctor is examining him. This is why several readings made in different occasions are necessary, in order to determine whether a person is hypertensive or not. You may be recommended to check your blood pressure even at home or at work.
The sphygmomanometer is the device that measures blood pressure. It is composed of an inflammable arm-cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge. The diagnosis of hypertension is usually given during a routine physical exam. It takes about two or more high results of reading for you to be diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Because a theory says that the one which has a damaging effect on the organs when it gets too weigh it's the diastolic pressure, it was given much more importance in the past than to the systolic pressure, which is more tolerable by the body. But time and studies proved both of them to be equally important. Moreover, the systolic pressure is even more important than the diastolic pressure in people over the age of 50. There are many cases, especially of older American people whose diastolic pressure is even more important than the systolic pressure was at regular level, which the systolic pressure is high; this is as isolated systolic hypertension. The difference of value between the two pressures can predict eventual risks for people that passed the age of 55.
Hypertension must be kept under control, because there are situations in which excessive pressure exerted on the arterial walls can be extremely nocive to the vital organs. The minimizing of damage depends upon a prompt diagnoses and control of high blood pressure. The fact that signs and symptoms are most of the time absents should make you even more careful and cautious concerning your blood pressure.
If you keep your hypertension under control, you diminish the risk of heart attack.