Causes of High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, and to the development of heart failure.
What Is "Normal" Blood Pressure?
A blood pressure reading has a top number (systolic) and bottom number (diastolic). The ranges are:
- Normal: Less than 120 over 80 (120/80)
- Prehypertension: 120-139 over 80-89
- Stage 1 high blood pressure: 140-159 over 90-99
- Stage 2 high blood pressure: 160 and above over 100 and above
People whose blood pressure is above the normal range should consult their doctor about steps to take to lower it.
Silent Killer
→ About one-third of the people with it do not know that they have it.→ Hypertension doesn't show any big symptom for many years or even decades, and vital early warning signals go unheeded.
HBP - Every third person in the world
→ The world health organisation (WHO) estimates that more than one in three adults, or about one billion people, is effected by high blood pressure.→ "Hyper-pressure" contributes to nearly 9.4 million deaths due to heart disease and stroke every year and, together, these two diseases are the number one cause of death worldwide.
HBP - Preventable and treatable
The high blood pressure is preventable and treatable once it is detected.Prevention of HBP
→ Maintain a healthy weight→ Eat less salt
→ Get regular exercise
→ Stop or cut back taking alcohol
→ Eat heart healthy foods
→ Manage stress
→ Avoid tobacco in any form
