Michael was sitting on the back porch of his home. The summer sun was filtered through the large shade tree in the back yard, and a gentle breeze was blowing. It was a perfect day, but Michael was concerned and preoccupied. He had seen his doctor today for a follow examination, to discuss the results of some recent blood tests. Michael’s doctor diagnosed high blood pressure 2 weeks ago at his first check up visit in years. Blood tests and an EKG were ordered, and Michael had received the results earlier today. The EKG showed a thickening of Michael’s heart muscle, and the lab tests indicated loss of kidney function was present. The doctor recommended prescription drugs, weight loss, and regular exercise. For yeas Michael had felt just fine. Now he was told his body had been damaged by high blood pressure, and there was a significant risk of heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure if some big changes were not made now.
High blood pressure (called hypertension by health care workers) is one of the most common health concerns today, with as many as 1 in 3 adults affected by the condition. The effects of untreated hypertension are serious and life-threatening, to include heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, demential, an others. With adequate treatment, these effects can be significantly reduced, potentially adding years to the life of those affected by this disease.
Everyone needs to have an adequate blood pressure to survive. Each time the heart beats, blood is forced into the bloodstream. As the blood moves through the arteries, the pressure rises, then returns to the baseline pressure as the heart relaxes. When measuring blood pressure, the higher number refers to the pulse of blood flow as the heart contracts. This is called the systolic pressure. As he heart relaxes, and the blood flow slows, the pressure drops. The lower pressure is called the diastolic pressure. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are important to consider for health.
As a general rule, the systolic blood pressure should be less than 140. The preference for most individuals would be a systolic pressure of 130 or less. Likewise, the diastolic pressure should be less than 90, with a preference of less than 80 in most persons. A good blood pressure would be written as 128/76 (or 128 over 76), for example. The systolic blood pressure is always listed first.
The blood vessels of the body are responsible for taking the blood the heart pumps and deliver it to all the organs and tissues of the body. Blood vessels are flexible - as the pressure pulse from the heart pushes blood through the blood vessels, they expand and contract slightly in response to the pressure changes.
If a person has a blood pressure that is too high, damage starts to occur to the blood vessels. This may take several years before effects are seen in a person’s health. As the blood vessels are exposed to high pressures, they respond by becoming thicker and less flexible. Inflammation and deposits of cholesterol and calcium often occur, causing ‘hardening of the arteries’. This process is accelerated in tobacco users. Over time, the blood vessels develop a smaller inside diameter, and are unable to carry as much blood as before. The result is damage to the organs, leading to heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, or other health disasters. Unfortunately, the person affected by hypertension is usually unaware the damage is occurring until it is too late. This is why hypertension has been called ‘the silent killer.
Why do people develop hypertension in he first place? The blame often lies with a combination of factors, to include a having a family member with high blood pressure (genetics), being overweight, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol intake (more than 2 drinks per day) and poor diets high in sodium and fatty foods.
Most doctors would agree the treatment plan for high blood pressure should include diet changes that encourage more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts (unsalted, of course). Starting a moderate intensity exercise program consisting of about 30 minutes most days of the week can be as effective as a low dose of medication. Walking, swimming, and riding a bike are all good examples of moderate exercises. If a person is overweight, losing as little as 10 lbs can have a significant effect on lowering blood pressure.
There are numerous medications that have been shown to lower blood pressure, and improve long term survival in patients with high blood pressure. The majority of these medications have been around for a long time, so low cost generic versions are usually available. It is critical the medication be taken regularly as prescribed. If side effects are a factor, the prescribing physician should be notified immediately, so the dose may be adjusted, or a different medication may be prescribed. Regular follow up with the doctor is also important, to make sure the blood pressure has been well controlled.
For more information on high blood pressure, visit the following web sites:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/DS00100
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002020_SubHomePage.jsp#
