Hypertension is the Medical Term for High Blood Pressure, the Silent Killer

Hypertension Can and Should be Controlled.

It is the medical term for high blood pressure, which is considered to be the silent killer, because there are no symptoms. The only way to determine if someone has high blood pressure is only by being monitored.

There is a common misconception that high blood pressure refers to being tense nervous or hyperactive. This isn't true. The American Heart association warns that a person can be calm and relaxed, have high blood pressure for years, that is silently killing him, and not be aware of it all.

It is a dangerous disease that should not be taken lightly
Hypertension increases the risks for heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, eye damage, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease.

High blood pressure occurs when the heart pumps blood into the blood vessels to nourish the body, and then receives a resistant force against it coming from the arteries. The arteries are either constricted or narrowed, and resist the normal blood flow, causing the heart muscle to work harder.

This in turn enlarges the heart muscle, which then loses its efficiency to pump blood and oxygen to all the cells in the body. When the cells don't get enough oxygen they begin to die. When the cells die, we die.

High blood pressure	140/90	Hypertension
Risky blood pressure	120/80-139/189	Pre-Hypertension
Normal blood pressure	below 120/80	Healthy

These are the factors that contribute and may cause high blood pressure.

The ones we cannot control:

• Genes it is hereditary
• Age it tends to increase with age
• Male sex up to age 55 it is more prevalent in males
• The ones we can control
• Diets heavy in sodium
• Obesity and overweight
• Sedentary and inactive lifestyle
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Stress

Fortunately we can do something about hypertension

• We can watch our diets
• We can lose weight
• We can exercise
• We can teach ourselves how to reduce stress and relax
• and when needed take medications when all else fails.

There surely is no need for us to suffer, and get heart disease we can avoid hypertension by adopting a healthy lifestyle.