May 4, 2007

Tips On Preventing And Controlling High Blood Pressure

When blood pressure stays elevated over time it is called high blood pressure. The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension.
The dangers of high blood pressure include:
0Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
0Increases risk of heart disease and stroke
0Higher risk of congestive heart failure
0Higher risk of kidney disease
0Higher risk for blindness
A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. A blood pressure between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg means you have prehypertension.
When you have prehypertension it means you don0t have high blood pressure now, but you are likely to develop it in the future unless you adopt healthy lifestyle changes.
High blood pressure is a condition that most people will have at some point their lives. Although both numbers in a blood pressure reading are important, for people age 50 or older, systolic pressure gives the most accurate diagnosis of high blood pressure. The top number is the systolic pressure. A top number of 140 mmHg or above is high.
Risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase your chances of developing a disease. More than one risk factor means you have a much greater chance of developing heart disease.
Risk factors you can control include:
0High blood pressure
0Abnormal cholesterol
0Tobacco use
0Overweight
0Physical inactivity
0Diet
Risk […]