Hypertension: causes, effects, and management approaches

THE FACTS ON HYPERTENSION

As a medical disorder, hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is characterized by elevated blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg. As John P. Cunha points out, normal blood pressure "is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called pre-hypertension, and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high." The top number (systolic) relates to the "pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries," while the bottom number (diastolic) represents "the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction" ("High Blood Pressure," Internet). Of course, hypertension is considered as a dangerous disease because "it make the heart work harder to pump blood to the body" and often contributes to "hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis and the development of heart failure" ("Hypertension," Internet). Essential hypertension has no single identifiable cause but the risk of developing the disorder is increased by obesity, a high sodium level in blood serum, hypercholesterolemia (high levels of "bad" cholesterol), and a family history of high blood pressure. Some of the symptoms include severe headaches, blurred vision, and confusion and may result in fatal uremia, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Some of the drugs used to treat hypertension include diuretics, vasodilators, certain depressants, SNS inhibitors and specific blocking agents. The prevention of hypertension includes many different methods, but the most common are linked to changes in a person's lifestyle. These include weight loss if a person is overweight or obese, regular exercise, eating a healthy diet low in fat and sodium and high in fruits, vegetables and fiber, avoiding smoking, and most importantly, controlling diabetes by keeping one's blood sugar levels under strict control ("Hypertension: Blood Pressure Basics," Internet). Of course, a person with hypertension should always consult a physician before attempting to control or alter this serious disorder which affects millions of Americans often without any kind of symptoms. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cunha, John P. "High Blood Pressure." Medicinenet.com. Internet. 2007. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/highbloodpressure/article.htm.