High Blood Pressure - Nearly 1 in 3 American Adults Have It!

By Richard H Ealom

INTRODUCTION: High blood pressure also known as hypertension means abnormally high pressure (tension) in your arteries. It does not mean excessive tension caused by emotions, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily raise blood pressure.

Hypertension often has no symptoms, but it can produce serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.

It forces the heart to work much harder and can damage the arteries, causing them to narrow faster. It can also harm many parts of the body and is a major health problem in the US affecting 1/3 of Americans or 65 million persons, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

HYPERTENSION: Most often referred to as "high blood pressure", HTN or HPN, is a medical problem in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated and is considered to be present when a person's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg or higher, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is continously 90 mmHg or greater.

It can be categorized as either essential (primary) or secondary and is one of the most frequent occuring complex disorders, with genetic implication averaging 30 percent. Hypertension can be a short term or lifelong disease, depending on the cause and is dangerous because it forces the heart to work extra hard.

Pre-hypertension is blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the pre-hypertension range. If your blood pressure is in the pre-hypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it. If you have this kind of hypertension, you may not need to take medication.

HEART: Some people may not find out they have high blood pressure until they have problems with their heart, brain, or kidneys. If it is not found and treated, it can cause the heart to grow larger, which can lead to heart failure. With high blood pressure, the heart works much harder, your arteries take a beating, and your odds of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are increased.

If you don't have hypertension by age 55, you have a 90 % chance of developing it at some point during your life, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. If left untreated, it will cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point at which serious damage can happen. About 1/2 of people having first-time heart attacks and two-thirds of people having first-time strokes suffer from hypertension.

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TREATMENT: Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and lowering blood pressure to normal limits. When you first start treatment, your doctor may want you to come to the office regularly. Your doctor will review the information with you and decide if your treatment program is working or if you need to make changes to it.

Among the 61 percent who are under taking treatment, only 35 percent have their hypertension under adequate controlled. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your physician.

CONCLUSION: High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it often has no symptoms and is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease and stroke. High blood pressure is not evenly spread throughout the population and happens disproportionately more often in minority communities.

Hypertension rates are also rising among American children, along with an epidemic of obesity. High blood pressure in adults will usually be measured on at least 2 different doctor visits before a diagnosis is made. It can be treated with both lifestyle changes, normally the first step, and, if needed, with drugs. Diuretics work in the kidney to flush excess water and sodium from the body.

Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. Once It develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. Fortunately, it can be easily detected, and once you know you have it, you can work with your doctor to control it.