Look After Your Blood Pressure

Many people talk about high blood pressure and how their daily lifestyle affects it. In this article we look at some possible causes of high blood pressure and answer a few frequently asked questions.

What is high blood pressure?
The blood pressure is the force of blood that is exerted on the walls of the arteries within the body. The arteries are the tubes that take blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Our blood pressure doesn’t stay constant throughout the day, but when it remains elevated for a period of time it is called high blood pressure; the medical term for this is hypertension.

Many people do not feel ill when they have high blood pressure. Many will associate headache, nosebleeds, shortness of breath and many other symptoms with high blood pressure. These associations can be true, but the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured.
The target blood pressure for adults is taken to be 140/85mmHg. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The first number in the reading is the systolic pressure and the second is the diastolic.

The systolic pressure is high because this is the time when the heart is generating enough force to pump the blood around the body; the diastolic pressure is lower which is the time between heartbeats. Patients with coronary heart disease or diabetes will have different targets for their blood pressure. The diagrams below represent the blood flow through the heart and aim to explain systole and diastole.

Why is blood pressure important?
A high blood pressure makes the heart work harder than it needs to. This can increase the risk of heart disease. High blood pressure can also increase the risk of stroke, problems with the kidneys and the eyes.
 
What causes high blood pressure?
For many people a single exact cause for their high blood pressure can’t be found, but there are several factors that can contribute to an elevating blood pressure which include:
•   Being overweight
•   A high salt intake
•  Low physical activity
Sometimes genetics can have a role in causing a high blood pressure and therefore it can run in families. In a minority of people a cause can be found, various tests are usually carried out to confirm these. Sometimes other medicines can cause a rise blood pressure and it is important to tell a health care professional if you have high blood pressure when buying medications over the counter.

How is blood pressure measured?
Your doctor or nurse can check your blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. This is an instrument with a cuff that is placed around your arm. The cuff is inflated to a certain pressure; this briefly stops the blood flow to your arm and may feel slightly uncomfortable.

The cuff is then deflated and the doctor or nurse will listen to the return of blood flow through the artery with a stethoscope and note your blood pressure. Many doctors now use electronic blood pressure monitors that inflate and deflate automatically and measure your blood pressure and pulse rate.

Is there any treatment?
Your doctor may recommend several forms of treatment for high blood pressure; these include a healthy lifestyle and various types of medications.

Lifestyle changes include:
•     Eating a healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products and foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol.
•     For someone with high blood pressure, the doctor may advise to eat less salt and sodium.
•      Being overweight increases the chances of having high blood pressure. Being overweight also increases the risk of developing a high blood cholesterol and diabetes.
•      An exercise plan is a good way to start a healthy lifestyle, becoming physically active can help control blood pressure.
•      Drinking too much alcohol can also cause a rise in blood pressure.
•      We have seen many advertisements on how smoking can damage your arteries and then cause them to clog up. Although smoking may not cause high blood pressure directly, stopping smoking is progress to healthy-living.
There are many medications for high blood pressure; each one has various side effects. Below we have listed a few of the common types of blood pressure tablets:
•      Diuretics: these pills work on the kidney and reduce excess water and salt from the body causing hormonal reactions to decrease the blood pressure.
•      Beta-blockers: These tablets don’t allow the heart to work as hard; they prevent the heart from beating more quickly and forcefully. Beta-blockers are not usually given to people with asthma as it can make their asthma worse.
•      Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), these tablets prevent the formation of the hormone angiotensin II which cause the arteries to narrow. Inhibiting this hormone results in the arteries relaxing and preventing a rise in blood pressure.
•      Calcium channel blockers: as the name of the medicine suggests these drugs prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing them to relax and allowing the blood pressure to decrease.
•      There are many other tablets that can cause a decrease in blood pressure. Each drug has different side effects. You may be able to seek advice from your doctor regarding any medications you are taking.
For advice regarding blood pressure it is best to go and see your doctor who may be able to confirm your diagnosis and offer a management plan.
Article by: Sandip Hindocha. University of Manchester. Email: hindocha2001@yahoo.com
Note:
Information included within this article is not intended for medical advise or treatment. You should contact your health care professional for any medical guidance or treatment options.