The arteries carry blood out of heart to all organs . Healthy arteries are flexible, strong , supple and elastic.”
Why control blood pressure ?
High blood pressure can quietly damage body for years before symptoms develop. Left uncontrolled, it leads to disability, a poor quality of life or even a fatal heart attack. Fortunately, with treatment and lifestyle changes, one can control high blood pressure and reduce risk of life-threatening complications.
What is Hypertension ?
Pressure on the wall of blood vessels is called as blood pressure . Blood is carried in blood vessels ( calelastic. Their inner lining is smooth so that blood flows freely, supplying vital organs and tissues with adequate nutrients and oxygen. If you have high blood pressure, the increased pressure of blood flowing through your arteries gradually can cause a variety of problems .
When do we call it as hypertension ?
In an adult , Blood pressure less than 120 / 80 is considered normal . Between 120-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic is prehypertension , systolic 140 – 159 and diastolic 90 – 99 is grade I hypertension, above 160 systolic and 100 diastolic is grade II hypertension .
The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) has recommended that clinicians reduce blood pressure to 140/90 mm Hg or even lower if tolerated. In high-risk populations such as those with diabetes mellitus or renal disease, a treatment goal of lower than 130/80 mm Hg is recommended.
How hypertension harms ?
High blood pressure can damage the cells of inner lining of arteries . This make artery walls thick and stiff, a disease called arteriosclerosis . Fats from diet enter bloodstream, pass through the damaged cells and collect to start atherosclerosis . These changes affect arteries throughout the body, blocking blood flow to heart, kidneys, brain, arms and legs. The damage can cause many problems like heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, peripheral arterial disease , bleeding inside eyes and blindness .
Heart disease.
Coronary artery are the blood vessels which supply heart muscles . Arteries narrowed by atherosclerosis do not allow blood to flow freely , which can cause chest pain (angina). People with high blood pressure are more likely to die of heart attack than are people who do not have high blood pressure.
Heart failure.
Over time, the strain on heart caused by high blood pressure cause heart muscle to weaken and work less efficiently. Eventually, overwhelmed heart simply begins to wear out and fails .
Transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Also called a mini stroke, a transient ischemic attack is a brief, temporary disruption of blood supply to brain. It is often caused by atherosclerosis or a blood clot - both of which can arise from high blood pressure. A transient ischemic attack is often a warning that the person is at risk of a full-blown stroke.
Stroke.
A stroke occurs when part of brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke by damaging and weakening brain's blood vessels, causing them to narrow, rupture or leak. High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke. High blood pressure can also cause an aneurysm — a bulge in the blood vessel wall that can burst, causing life-threatening bleeding in the brain.
Dementia.
Dementia is a brain disease resulting in impaired thinking, speaking, reasoning, memory, vision and movement. There are a number of causes of dementia. One cause, vascular dementia, can result from narrowing and blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the brain. It can also result from strokes caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. In either case, high blood pressure may be the culprit. High blood pressure that occurs even as early as middle age can increase the risk of dementia in later years.
Eyes .
Uncontrolled high blood pressure affects vision irreversibly . Blood vessel in the eye can rupture leading to bleeding inside eyes and sudden blindness . High blood pressure over long period causes narrowing of blood vessels , so the blood supply to inner layer of eyes called retina and also to optic nerve is affected leading to gradual onset of blindness .
Kidney failure.
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of kidney failure. That's because it can damage both the large arteries leading to kidneys and the tiny blood vessels (glomeruli) within the kidneys. Having diabetes in addition to high blood pressure can worsen the damage. Damaged kidneys can not effectively filter waste from blood. As a result, dangerous levels of fluid and waste can accumulate. Person affected might ultimately require dialysis or kidney transplantation.
What causes high blood pressure ?
Besides genetic causes , obesity , smoking , constant stress , high salt intake , taking some drugs especially pleasure drugs like cocaine , pain killers and steroids can cause rise in blood pressure .
Obesity specially among children is a cause for concern . Television culture , lack of socialization , junk food , lack of physical exercise lead to obesity . In obese people , body fat gets deposited in blood vessel wall making them stiff and hard leading to hypertension .
Reducing salt intake , healthy food habits , physical exercise , controlling obesity , relaxation techniques like yoga and avoidance of smoking are some ways to control blood pressure .
However in most cases medicines to lower blood pressure are a must . Once blood pressure has developed , diet control and yoga by themselves are not enough to control blood pressure .
