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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.
"Hypertension." MedlinePlus. Internet. 2007. Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
medlineplus/ency/article/000468.htm.
"Hypertension: Blood Pressure Basics." WebMD. Internet. 2007. Retrieved
from http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/blood-
pressure-basics.
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