We measure the blood pressure in millimeters of mercury. A high systolic blood pressure level is any number greater than 140. A high diastolic blood pressure level is any measurement bigger than 90. People who measure above these numbers over two or more successive screenings have stage one hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is a diastolic measure above 100 and a systolic blood pressure level of more than 160. People who have stage 2 hypertension require immediate medical attention.
Causes And Symptoms
High blood pressure levels do not always have a known cause. Nor will an individual with high blood pressure levels necessarily notice any symptoms. Consequently hypertension is often described as the "silent killer." In fact a person can have high blood pressure levels for several years without even realizing it. The only way to establish whether or not you have hypertension is via regular screenings.
It is not until a person develops stage 2 hypertension that they begin to notice that anything is amiss. A person with highly elevated blood pressure may notice a acute headache, queasiness, weakness and blurred vision. If you notice any of these symptoms and you know or suspect that you might have hypertension, go to the emergency room immediately.
The Risks
If hypertension is left unchecked it can do serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes and kidneys. People with high blood pressure levels that do not get the required treatment are at very high risk of eye damage, stroke, aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure and even death. Therefore regular blood pressure screenings from a health provider are very important.
Treatment
If two or more successive tests indicate that you have hypertension then there is a great deal that you can do to help yourself. A healthy low-fat diet and regular exercise can help to lower the blood pressure. Even a moderate amount of healthy weight loss can help correct the problem of hypertension. You should also make the effort to consume less salt, cut down on alcohol and stop smoking if you partake in the habit.
Various medications are also available to treat high blood pressure levels. Diuretics are helpful for people with stage one hypertension because they reduce the amount of sodium in the bloodstream and decrease blood volume. Your health care provider may also prescribe calcium channel blockers, which lower high blood pressure levels by slackening the muscles of the artery walls. Beta blockers are another option since they lower the heart rate and decrease the strength of heart contractions to relieve some of the pressure. Then there are ACE inhibitors which inhibit a hormone called angiotensin, which is a chemical that makes the blood vessels tighten and can therefore exacerbate hypertension. To learn about the full range of medicines available to treat high blood pressure, talk to your health provider.
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