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Home Remedies What is High Blood Pressure?

What Is High Blood Pressure and How to Deal With it?

High blood pressure (HBP) is a condition that can lead to serious health problems.

HBP is rapidly growing medical condition worldwide mainly due to lifestyle reasons. It is not surprising that about 1 in 3 adults in the United States have HBP.

Sadly it usually has no symptoms so it can go unnoticed for years. During this time, though, it can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of your body. It is therefore important to regularly check your blood pressure even if you're feeling fine. If it is normal then you must maintain it. If the reading is too high then you must take required medication to prevent the damage it can cause if left untreated.

So What is High Blood Pressure and How is It Measured?

Blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. When the heart is at rest, between the beats, your blood pressure falls. The blood pressure is highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. It is lowest when it is at rest between the beats. This is the diastolic pressure.

The measurement uses these two pressure numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. It is measure in millimeters of mercury. When it is written as 120/80 means systolic pressure is 120 millimeters and diastolic pressure is 80 millimeters. 

Following are some base line numbers

  • 120/80 or lower is considered normal
  • 140/90 or higher is considered HBP
  • 120 and 139 for systolic, or between 80 and 89 for the diastolic is pre-hypertension

HBPcauses serious health problems including  heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. It can be controlled through lifestyle changes and taking medicines, if needed.

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