Hypertension - The Greatest Risk To Your Health?

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Article Title:

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Hypertension - The Greatest Risk To Your Health?

Article Description:

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Conservative estimates indicate that there are over 600 million

adults worldwide suffering from hypertension, the technical

term for persistent high blood pressure.

Additional Article Information:

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1027 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line

Distribution Date and Time: Thu Mar 2 17:36:57 EST 2006

Written By: Vorwerden

Copyright: 2006

Contact Email: mailto:edward.vorwerden@...

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Hypertension - The Greatest Risk To Your Health?

Copyright © 2006 Vorwerden

RV Health

http://www.rvhealth.com

Conservative estimates indicate that there are over 600 million

adults worldwide suffering from hypertension, the technical

term for persistent high blood pressure. The continued growth

has caused doctors to define an additional level of risk,

prehypertension, as an indication of potential trouble. Experts

believe that as many as 90% of us will develop a blood pressure

problem during our lifetime, with 50% of us either dying from

heart disease or a stroke - the usual outcome of hypertension.

As it does most of its harm without the person knowing it,

hypertension is often referred to as " The Stealth Killer. " Yet

it's true that a few painless moments in a pressure cuff can

detect hypertension, and a few relatively simple lifestyle

changes can treat it.

So why has the problem grown to this extent? We are all

continually bombarded with commercials, and magazine articles

which reinforce the importance of living a healthy life. Yet most

of us choose to ignore the message and indulge in all the " bad "

things such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and high fat snacks.

Could You Be At Risk?

First lets take a look at your blood pressure reading and what it

means. A blood pressure reading is represented by two numbers,

120/80 or 160/100 for example. The first number refers to the

pressure against the blood vessel walls during a heartbeat, the

systolic pressure. The second number is the pressure taken

between heartbeats, the diastolic pressure. Here are the American

Heart Association's recommended levels of blood pressure (units

mm Hg):-

* Normal: 120 or less / 80 or less

* Prehypertension: 120-139 ( systolic) or 80-89 (diastolic)

* Stage 1 Hypertension: 140-159 or 90-99

* Stage 2 Hypertension: 160 and above or 100 and above

Unchangeable Risk Factors

African Americans and those with a dark complexion (e.g.,

Bahamians and Native Americans) are at a much higher risk. While

the reasons may not be clear, some believe that this is due to

genetic or environmental factors.

High blood pressure shows mercy to no-one. Men are more inclined

than their female counterparts to suffer from hypertension before

reaching the age of 55. Since women tend to be more health-

aware, they take preventive measures to stave off hypertension,

though they are still susceptible to the disease.

Through the process of aging, the risk of having high blood

pressure increases. Adults between the ages of 50 and 65 are

more prone to suffer from hypertension. Bodily changes have

a direct effect on the heart, blood vessels, and hormones.

Combined with other risk factors, such changes increase your

probability of developing hypertension.

Family history can also be a pointer to your risk level. One in

four of the adults that exhibit a family history of heart disease

or hypertension face a 60% risk of developing hypertension.

Genetics, environmental factors and your ability to receive

proper health care are all critical in determining your risk of

developing hypertension. Though your family history may reflect

a propensity to develop the disease, this doesn't guarantee that

you're destined to suffer from high blood pressure. It does

indicate, however, that preventive measures should be taken in

order reduce your risk of the disease.

Changeable Risk Factors

Awareness of your risk factor is the first step toward reducing

your risk of hypertension. Obesity, lack of exercise, smoking,

the consumption of high levels of alcohol and unhealthy eating

habits are all critical factors in the determination of whether

or not you're at risk for developing high blood pressure. A

change in lifestyle has proven to impact your chances of avoiding

the illness.

Overweight individuals are vulnerable to hypertension in a number

of ways. High fat diets are usually high in salt, which raises

blood pressure. Carrying excess weight requires the heart to work

harder, which forces the blood to flow even harder through the

vessels. In addition a blood gas that relaxs the vessels is

destroyed by the layer of fat located around the gut.

Establishing healthy eating habits is the first step toward

lowering your risk. The diet recommended by heart specialists is

low in fat, low in salt and high in nutrients. Your intake of

salty snacks, processed foods, and cured meats should be reduced.

Replace these with more fruit and vegetables. Adopt better eating

habits and that needle on the bathroom scales will lower, as well

as the pressure monitor.

Sodium can be a deadly enemy of the body. The most popular

dietary source of sodium is ingested through the use of salt.

Increasing your salt intake requires the body to hold more water.

The body first stores this water in the bloodstream and then it

deposits it in the tissues. Fluid retention causes stress on

the heart and escalates the chances of developing high blood

pressure. Potassium helps promote a healthy balance of the

amount of sodium in cell fluids. Fruit - such as bananas -

and vegetables are an excellent source of potassium.

Physical activity, such as a short 20-minute walk or

housecleaning event, can have a dramatic impact on your life.

Any form of exercise assists your heart in the effort to pump

blood throughout your body. Lack of exercise causes the heart

to work harder, resulting in elevated blood pressure. Strive

for at least 30 minutes of exercise three or four times per

week.

Can there be anything worse for hypertension than smoking

tobacco? Smoking steps up the heart rate while hardening and

constricting the blood vessels. This creates even higher

pressure, which causes further damage to the heart and blood

vessels.

Alcohol consumption can be detrimental to your health in many

ways. The occasional beer or glass of wine will not make a

significant difference to your blood pressure, but indulgence can

cause serious issues. The consumption of three or more alcoholic

beverages each day nearly doubles your risk of developing high

blood pressure.

Wise Up

For those in the high risk category, a change of lifestyle can

decrease the chances of developing high blood pressure. The

adoption of a healthier life style is a goal that everyone is

capable of achieving. Instead of taking a gamble, choose to

take intelligent steps toward lowering your risk of high blood

pressure.

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Author Vorwerden suffered a stroke at the age of 37.

Since his recovery he has put his efforts into helping others

on health related issues through his website, <a

href= " http://www.rvhealth.com " >RV Health</a>.

For more help, advice and tips from you can go to:

http://www.rvhealth.com