| The insidious nature of high blood pressure | | | | involve discomfort in the center of the chest |
| makes it a true Silent Killer. Adopting a | | | | that lasts more than a few minutes, or that |
| healthy lifestyle is an effective step in | | | | goes away and comes back. It can feel like |
| preventing and controlling high blood | | | | uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness |
| pressure. Next time | | | | or pain. Shortness of breath may occur, as |
| you are with a group of 3 friends, take a | | | | well as nausea, or lightheadedness. It is |
| good look around; one of you will have high | | | | vital to get help immediately if any of these |
| blood pressure. The sad part is, since there | | | | symptoms occur. |
| are no symptoms, you may not even be aware of | | | | |
| it. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to | | | | The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of |
| heart attack, congestive heart failure, | | | | all waste products. Eventually, high blood |
| stroke, or kidney failure. Various risk | | | | pressure can thicken, then narrow the blood |
| factors contribute to this disease that are | | | | vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys becomes |
| both under our control, and out of our | | | | less efficient, filtering less fluid, and |
| control. The only way to determine if you | | | | waste builds up in the blood. Over time, the |
| have high blood pressure is to have your | | | | kidneys may fail altogether. When this |
| blood pressure checked. The insidious nature | | | | happens, medical treatment such as dialysis, |
| of this disease makes it a true Silent | | | | or a kidney transplant may be needed. |
| Killer. | | | | |
| | | | The best way to find out if you have high |
| The brain requires unobstructed blood flow to | | | | blood pressure is by having your blood |
| nourish its many functions. Very high, | | | | pressure checked regularly. Generally |
| sustained blood pressure will eventually | | | | speaking, doctors will diagnose a person with |
| cause blood vessels to weaken. Over time | | | | high blood pressure on the basis of two or |
| these weaken vessels can break, and blood | | | | more readings, taken on different occasions. |
| will leak into the brain. The area of the | | | | A consistent blood pressure reading of 140/90 |
| brain that is being fed by these broken | | | | mmHg or higher is considered high blood |
| vessels start to die, and this will cause a | | | | pressure, or hypertensive. It is vital to |
| stroke. Additionally, if a blot clot blocks a | | | | take steps to keep your blood pressure under |
| narrowed artery, blood ceases to flow and a | | | | control. The treatment goal is blood pressure |
| stroke will occur. Symptoms of a stroke | | | | below 140/90 and lower for people with other |
| include sudden numbness or weakness of the | | | | conditions, such as diabetes and kidney |
| face, arm or leg, especially on one side of | | | | disease. |
| the body, confusion, trouble speaking, or | | | | |
| seeing, sudden severe headache. If you or | | | | Adopting a healthy lifestyle including |
| someone with you has one or more of these | | | | healthy eating habits, reducing salt in the |
| signs, don't delay, call 911. | | | | diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting |
| | | | alcohol consumption, being physically active, |
| Like the brain, the heart requires blood to | | | | and quitting smoking is an effective step in |
| bring oxygen, and nutrients to its muscle | | | | preventing and controlling high blood |
| tissue. The narrowing of the arteries due to | | | | pressure. If lifestyle improvements alone are |
| blockage can cause high blood pressure. If | | | | not sufficient in keeping pressure |
| this blockage occurs in the arteries of the | | | | controlled, it may be necessary to add blood |
| heart, coronary arteries, heart muscle damage | | | | pressure medications. There are several |
| can occur, resulting in a heart attack. Some | | | | options that physicians have at their |
| heart attacks are sudden and intense, however | | | | disposal, and each option should be |
| most heart attacks start slowly with mild | | | | discussed, as to their side effects and |
| pain and discomfort. Most heart attacks | | | | efficacy. |