Hypertension
What Is Hypertension?Your heart beats about 100,000 times a day. Each time your heart beats, blood is pumped through the various blood vessels in your body. Your blood pressure is defined as the pressure the blood exerts on the vessel walls. If the pressure is too low, the blood may not reach certain areas of the body. If the blood pressure is too high, the heart and blood vessel walls may be damaged.
Hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure is constantly higher than normal. This poses a serious health risk because it forces the heart to work extra hard. The effects of hypertension include strokes and heart attacks.
One in four Americans suffer from hypertension. This astounding statistic is due in large part to various contributing factors, such as smoking, a diet rich in fat and cholesterol, and stress. African Americans and people with a family history of hypertension are at a greater risk for developing high blood pressure.
In 95 percent of hypertension cases, the cause is unknown. Experts are aware of contributing factors that increase the chances of developing hypertension, but no one has been able to determine a direct link between the factors and developing high blood pressure.
This section is divided into multiple articles. To research other hypertension or health topics, please use the morefocus search box, or see the related topics listed to the left.
Hypertension Treatment
Hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure is constantly higher than normal. This poses a serious health risk because it forces the heart to work extra hard. The effects of hypertension include strokes and heart attacks.
One in four Americans suffer from hypertension. This astounding statistic is due in large part to various contributing factors, such as smoking, a diet rich in fat and cholesterol, and stress. African Americans and people with a family history of hypertension are at a greater risk for developing high blood pressure.
In 95 percent of hypertension cases, the cause is unknown. Experts are aware of contributing factors that increase the chances of developing hypertension, but no one has been able to determine a direct link between the factors and developing high blood pressure.
This section is divided into multiple articles. To research other hypertension or health topics, please use the morefocus search box, or see the related topics listed to the left.
Hypertension Treatment
Millions of Americans know that they have high blood pressure. Millions of other Americans don't know that they have high blood pressure. Furthermore, millions more are at risk for high blood pressure. Since a person can have hypertension without ever displaying any symptoms, the only way to determine whether you have high blood pressure or not is consistent monitoring of your blood pressure.
If you have mild hypertension you may only need to make lifestyle changes and monitor your blood pressure regularly at home. For more severe hypertension, antihypertensive medication may be prescribed in conjunction with lifestyle changes. Many medications have side effects that may affect your daily life, so consult a doctor before starting any medication.
Many people are beginning to look to alternative medicine for ways to control their blood pressure. Dietary supplements and eastern medicine are quickly gaining in popularity as people look for simple, inexpensive methods to solve their health problems. Alternative medicine usually has added health benefits and usually lacks the side effects that often come with medications.
This section is divided into multiple articles dealing with hypertension treatment. To research other hypertension or health topics, please use the morefocus search box, or see the related topics listed to the left.
