High Blood Pressure - The Silent Killer
With high blood pressure being linked as a cause or contributing factor
of more and more health problems, affecting your heart, kidneys and even
your brain, knowing your blood pressure has never been so important.
It's true what they say, "knowledge is power", or at least it is in
this example. If you know you have high blood pressure you then have the
opportunity to lower it, and the sooner you take that first step the
better.
High blood pressure isn't usually something that can be cured, but it
can be treated and controlled. Evidence from many studies show that
lowering your blood pressure does greatly reduce the risk of heart attack,
stroke and other illnesses, so I think you'll agree it is a number, like
your height or weight, that you should know. You should always consult
your doctor regarding medical issues but, by simply adopting a healthier
lifestyle, high blood pressure can often be treated without the need for
medication.
So what is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force that your heart produces in your arteries
as it pumps blood around your body. High pressure puts you at a far
greater risk of developing narrowed arteries, which can lead to heart
problems, kidney disease and strokes.
What are the symptoms?
Because having high blood pressure doesn't present any symptoms (hence
the nickname of "the Silent Killer") this means it can easily go
unnoticed. The only way to know how high your blood pressure is is to have
it measured.
How do I find out what my blood pressure is?
You can easily find out your blood pressure by asking your doctor for
your blood pressure measurement, or you can take a blood pressure
measurement yourself at home using a blood pressure monitor. It's quick
and painless, but it could potentially save your life.
How do I know if my blood pressure measurement is too high?
If your pressure is not being measured by a medical professional you
can use this blood pressure chart,
developed by the World Health Organisation and the International Society
of Hypertension to, see the varying classifications of blood pressure. But
as a general rule, if your blood pressure were 140/90mmHg or higher, you
would be considered to have high blood pressure.
Can blood pressure affect anyone?
Yes, and although it can be hereditary or be part of an underlying
illness, high blood pressure is more commonly caused by the below factors,
and the really good news is you can change or improve all of them:
- Being overweight
- Having high cholesterol
- Poor diet, excessive amounts of salt and fats
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- Stress or emotional upset
So make the next number you learn your blood pressure, it could save
your life.
Useful Links
Omron fully automatic upper arm blood pressure monitor £59.95
Omron fully automatic wrist blood pressure monitor £59.95
For more in depth information about Blood Pressure visit:
www.bpassoc.org.uk Blood
Pressure Association
www.bhsoc.org British Hypertension
Society
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