HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - SLY AS A FOX

High blood pressure (hypertension) is an intermittent or sustained elevation of systolic pressure greater than 140 mmHg and a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mmHg over a sustained period. New hypertension guidelines released 2017, changes the definition of high blood pressure, which is now considered any systolic BP (blood pressure) measurement of 130 mmHg or higher and any diastolic BP measurement of 80 mmHg or higher. Hypertension is sometimes called "the silent killer" because it is generally a symptomless condition for many years, only until a vital organ is damaged. In a survey done in 1991 - 1994, 32% of people who had pressures of more than 140 mmHg were unaware of an elevation in blood pressure.

HYPERTENSION - "THE SILENT KILLER"

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To many people, the word hypertension suggests excessive tension, nervousness or stress. In medical terms, however, hypertension refers to a condition of elevated blood pressure, regardless of the cause.

It is estimated that more than 72 million Americans have high blood pressure. It occurs more often in black adults, compared to the number of whites. The consequences of high blood pressure are worse in the black population. Treatment guidelines are also updated for specific populations.
New guidelines, released a few days ago, classify more Americans as having high blood pressure. A medical director of Heart and Vascular department at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, Dr. Robert Wozniak, says the new guidelines prescribe that treatment for hypertension should be commenced when the reading is 130/80 mmHg. The limit a few days ago was 140/90 mmHg. After years of study by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and nine other Health Professional Organizations, the new guidelines were developed. One in three Americans was classified as having high blood pressure preceding the new guidelines, which means 103 million Americans now be diagnosed with high blood pressure, this is an estimate of 14% more people with high blood pressure, because of the new Hypertension Guideline of hypertension which is now considered any systolic BP measurement of 130 mmHg or any diastolic BP of 80 mmHg or higher.

There are two types of hypertension, namely essential (also called primary or idiopathic) and secondary hypertension. Essential hypertension, the most common type is complex. It involves several homeostatic mechanisms. Secondary hypertension is related to a systemic disease which raises peripheral vascular resistance or increased cardiac output and the cause can be treated.

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Risk Factors for Hypertension

• Age
• Family history
• Race
• Stress
• Excess body weight
• Inactive lifestyle (sedentary)
• Diet high in fat
• Use of hormonal contraceptives
• Excess sodium intake (although current controversy continues over the role of salt in hypertension)
• Use of tobacco
  Cigarette smoking does not cause hypertension, however, if a person with hypertension smokes, his/her risk of dying from heart disease or related disorders, increases considerably.

Complications of Hypertension

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Sly as a Fox

Hypertension usually begins insidiously as a benign disease. If left untreated, even mild cases can cause major complications and death. Essential hypertension is sneaky. It may begin benignly, but it will slowly get nasty. Carefully managed treatment, which may include lifestyle changes and drug therapy, improves prognosis.

Prolonged Hypertension

Prolonged elevated blood pressure eventually damages blood vessels throughout the body, particularly in target organs such as the eyes, brain, kidneys, and heart. The usual consequences of prolonged uncontrolled hypertension are a myocardial infarction (heart attack) cardiac failure, renal failure. stroke and impaired vision. The left ventricle of the heart becomes enlarged as it works to pump blood against the elevated pressure.

Multifactorial

The precise cause for most cases of hypertension cannot be identified and is therefore understood that it is a multifactorial condition and because hypertension is a sign, it is most likely to have many causes, just as fever has many causes. There must be a change in one of the factors in the blood pressure equation for hypertension to occur and a problem with one of the control systems, monitoring or controlling blood pressure.

Have your Blood Pressure Checked

Hypertension is thought to arise from the following:

• changes in the arteriolar bed, causing increased resistance
• an abnormally increased tone in the sensory nervous system that originates in the vasomotor system centers, causing increased peripheral vascular resistance
• increased blood volume resulting from renal or hormonal dysfunction
• increase in arteriolar thickening caused by genetic factors, leading to increased peripheral vascular resistance
• abnormal renin release from the kidneys, resulting in the formation of angiotensin II, which constricts the arterioles and increases blood volume

Hypertension increases the heart's workload. This causes left ventricular hypertrophy and later, left-sided heart failure, pulmonary edema, and right-sided heart failure.

Benefits of Excercise

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Lifestyle Modification

• Lose weight if overweight
• Limit alcohol intake to no more than 30 ml ethanol, 720 ml beer, 300 ml wine, 60 ml 100-proof whiskey, 15 ml ethanol for woman and lighter-weight people
• Increase aerobic physical activity - 30 to 45 minutes most days of the week
• Reduce sodium (salt) intake to 2.4 g sodium or 6 g sodium chloride
• Increase and maintain adequate dietary intake of potassium, consult practitioner if kidney problems
• Maintain adequate dietary intake of calcium and magnesium for general health
• Reduce intake of dietary saturated fats and cholesterol for overall cardiovascular health
• Stop smoking - it is never too late

DASH Diet

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New guidelines released 2017 http://professional.heart.org/professional/ScienceNews/UCM_496965_2017-Hypertension-Clinical-Guidelines.jsp