Hypertension is derived from two source words; Hyper which means Raised and Tension meaning Squeezing. Hypertension usually means high blood pressure. Pressure is the force generated when the heart compresses and pumps blood through the blood vessels that conduct the blood to all of the parts of the body. Although hypertension does not mean or result from exaggerated emotional tension, evidence does show that stress and emotional tension can cause increase in blood pressure, and if prolonged, could bemaintained. High blood pressure is therefore generally defined as a blood pressure exceeding 140/90mmHg confirmed on multiple occasions. The top number (140) is called the SYSTOLIC PRESSURE, and it records the pressure in the blood vessels (arteries) as the heart compresses and pumps blood into the circulation. The bottom number (90) is called DIASTOLIC PRESSURE, and it represents the pressure in the blood vessels as the heart relaxes after contraction. These figuresare measured in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg) reflect the highest and lowest pressures the heart and blood vessels are exposed to during circulation.The generally agreed normal value for blood pressure is 120/80mmHg. Higher than this value but lower than 140/90mmHg is not considered to be hypertensive yet but signals danger, it is therefore called high normal.
An elevation of the blood pressure (Hypertension) increases the chance of developing Heart (Cardiac) diseases such as Heart Failure and Heart attack, Kidney diseases, Vascular diseases like athelosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of blood vessels), Eye damage and Stroke (brain damage). These developments called End organ damage follow as a result of long standing (chronic) hypertension. But victims of hypertension are not aware, at an early stage, that they have the disease, until these complications start to appear. This is because hypertension shows virtually no symptoms at the early stage. For this reason, it is usually referred to as the ‘Silent Killer’.
The harm caused as a result of hypertension grows in seriousness as the blood pressure increases. Based on this hypertension can be classified as follows:
CATEGORY SYSTOLIC(mmHg) DIASTOLIC(mmHg) Normal Less than 130 Less than 85, High Normal 130 – 139 85 – 89, Mild Hypertension 140 – 159 90 – 99, Tolerable Hypertension 160 – 179 100 – 109, Severe Hypertension 180 – 209 110 – 119, Very Severe Hypertension Greater than 210 Greater than 120
BORDERLINE HYPERTENSION.
Borderline Hypertension is defined as mildly raised blood pressure that is found to be above 140/90mmHg at some times and lower than that at other times.
Patients with borderline value need to have their blood pressure monitored more frequently. They also need to assess end organ damage to be conscious of the risks of their hypertension.
It should, however, be emphasized that persons with borderline hypertension have a higher tendency to produce a more sustained hypertension as they get older. They stand a slight risk of having heart related diseases. A close monitoring of their blood pressure and lifestyles could be very useful in this regard. A balanced diet and regular exercise are recommended. Exercise at your own speed with a running treadmill Check out the reviews at running treadmill
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July 24, 2011
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