High Blood Pressure - Silent but Deadly!

Many people with this disease may not even know it, since it displays little or no symptoms, especially in the early stages... hence the reason it is commonly referred to as "the silent killer". It can wreak its destructive effects for 10 to 20 years before its effects are first noticed.  Since you cannot feel, hear, taste, or see the signs of hypertension, you can easily ignore it.

High blood pressure affects one in every four adults in developed western societies, and almost 30% of  those people don't even know they have it.  Even worst, of the 70% who know they have this disease, almost 40% are being inadequately treated, and another 20% are receiving no treatment at all.  These staggering numbers indicate that a large percentage of our populations are at risk of developing life threatening conditions, such as kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke... leading to unhealthy, unhappy lives and premature death.

What Exactly Is Hypertension?

Two pressures are recorded: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the peak arterial blood pressure attained when the heart beats, and diastolic pressure is the minimum blood pressure between heartbeats. Because pressures are compared to the force generated by a column of mercury, they are expressed in terms of millimeters of mercury [mmHg]. For a healthy person the systolic and diastolic pressures are typically about 120 and 75 mmHg, respectively. Arterial blood pressure is written as a ratio of systolic over diastolic pressure. So, the blood pressure of a healthy person is written as 120/75.

Hypertension is commonly considered to be a chronic resting blood pressure higher than 140/90. Transient high blood pressure resulting from emotion or exercise is not hypertension.

High blood pressure is a major cause of heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. In fact it is both a cause and symptom of kidney failure. The kidneys play an important role in regulating blood pressure, by regulating the concentration and volume of the blood. When the kidneys are not able to perform this essential function, it usually results in elevated blood pressure... thus it is a symptom of kidney failure.

Most cases of hypertension result from lifestyle, dietary, hereditary factors, and other factors. In these cases, however, it is difficult to pinpoint the specific underlying cause(s). These cases are known as primary hypertension and accounts for approximately 90% of all cases. In former years, it was considered to be a normal part of aging and was (and continues to be) called essential hypertension.

This may seem to suggest that it is normal and cannot be avoided, but this is not necessarily so. Having an understanding of the primary causes of high blood pressure can help in formulation of effective preventative strategies.

Treatments for primary hypertension include weight loss, diet, exercise, natural and homeopathic products, and certain prescription drugs.  Within recent years, the trend has been to use more alternative and natural treatments, rather than prescription drugs.  Some of these natural and alternative products have been quite successful, without the side effects of traditional prescription drugs.  In some cases, however, both alternative and traditional treatments may be required, to effectively lower blood pressure.

• kidney disease,

• atherosclerosis - degenerative disease of the arteries associated with fatty deposits on the inner walls, leading to reduced blood flow... and high blood pressure,

• hyperthyroidism - excessive activity of the thyroid gland. This can be caused by increased growth of the thyroid gland or the presence of tumors,

• Cushing syndrome - a metabolic disorder that results from excessive amounts of corticosteroids in the body because of the inability to regulate cortisol. The commonest cause is tumor of the pituitary gland or a malignancy elsewhere, e.g. in the lung or adrenal gland. Symptoms include obesity, reddening of face and neck, growth of facial hair, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and possible mental disturbances.

• Polycythemia - a condition in which there is an increase in the total number of red blood cells in the body. The overproduction of red blood cells may be caused by a primary process in the bone marrow, chronically low oxygen levels, or malignancy.

Secondary hypertension is corrected by treating the underlying causes.

The Dangers of Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure

The effects of high blood pressure on the tissues and organs of the body, can be severe and dangerous.  Tens of millions of people are walking around with uncontrolled high blood pressure.  Over time, this silent killer weakens their arteries, stresses their hearts, corrodes arteries in their brains, threatens their eyesight, and eats away at their kidneys.  The excess force generated by the constant high pressure of the blood against blood vessel walls can damage their all-important lining (the inner lining of arteries is called the endothelium).  Damage to the endothelium speeds up the hardening of the arteries. 

Hypertension, whether primary or secondary is a serious health condition and should not be taken for granted. It is a major cause of strokes, heart failure and kidney failure. Your best defense against high blood pressure is to prevent it, by minimizing and avoiding the risk factors and causes, and treating any underlying condition which may cause it. Most importantly, eat a balanced diet, drink adequate amounts of water, exercise, reduce stress levels, and avoid destructive habits such as smoking.

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