| Did you know there is no one specific symptom | | | | do not suffer from high blood pressure. High blood |
| that can identify high blood pressure, and that it is | | | | pressure can strike at any age, though most |
| the results of high blood pressure that produce | | | | often the condition occurs in older people, or |
| symptoms? Most people do not realize the only | | | | those who are overweight. |
| way you can find out if you suffer from high | | | | Ethnic Groups |
| blood pressure is to have a blood pressure | | | | Some ethnic groups are at a higher risk for high |
| reading taken. | | | | blood pressure because of genetics, so be on the |
| Blocked Arteries | | | | safe side. Blood pressure can be checked easily |
| High blood pressure is caused when blocked | | | | with the help of a blood pressure monitor or cuff. |
| arteries fail to deliver enough amounts of blood | | | | A reading will only take a few minutes and is the |
| carrying nutrients to every living organism within | | | | only way to find out if you have high blood |
| the human body. Such blockages cause arteries | | | | pressure or not. While we have days when we |
| to shrink in diameter. | | | | are nervous or tense, high blood pressure that |
| It is much like when a fuel line in your car is | | | | lasts more than a day or two should prompt you |
| clogged by dirt or debris, preventing fuel from | | | | to visit your doctor. |
| reaching its destination. And as with a car with a | | | | People sometimes feel dizzy or short of breath. |
| clogged fuel line, a blood vessel that is blocked or | | | | But these symptoms are not from high blood |
| clogged will fail to transport the necessary amount | | | | pressure by itself, but the resulting damage |
| of oxygenated blood to its destination. | | | | caused by high blood pressure. Often, smoking |
| Pressure inside the artery walls forces the heart | | | | also contributes to high blood pressure, as does a |
| to pump harder to get that blood where it needs | | | | high fat diet and lack of exercise. If you regularly |
| to go. The harder the heart muscle has to pump | | | | experience shortness of breath, light-headedness |
| blood, the higher your blood pressure will rise. If | | | | or feel as if your heart is pounding for no obvious |
| left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to | | | | reason, go get your blood pressure checked. |
| heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease. | | | | Remember, there is no readily identifiable |
| So what do you do if there is no particular high | | | | symptom of high blood pressure, and it will take a |
| blood pressure symptom to watch out for? How | | | | blood pressure reading to discover what your |
| do you know what to do to prevent high blood | | | | blood pressure is. You owe it to you and your |
| pressure related conditions? The first thing is to | | | | heart to take care of yourself, so do the best |
| get your blood pressure checked regularly. Do not | | | | you can with what you have. Your body, your |
| be fooled into thinking that young, healthy people | | | | heart, and your family will thank you for it. |