High Blood Pressure And Heart Disease

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All of us, when we are excited or afraid, have an increase in our pulse and a rise in the pressure inside our blood vessels. Many people have this kind of increase in pressure even when they are not excited or afraid. This condition is called “high blood pressure.”

High blood pressure is considered a silent killer, because most people with this disease have no symptoms. Over time, this increase in blood pressure can damage the blood vessels or vital organs. This can lead to strokes, heart disease, or kidney disease. High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease.

When your blood pressure goes up, the heart has to work harder than normal. This puts the heart and the blood vessels under a strain. If high blood pressure is not treated, the heart will have to work even harder to pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the body’s needs. The heart enlarges when it is forced to work harder than normal for a long time. An enlarged heart may have a hard time meeting the demands put on it.

Blood vessels also suffer the effects of high blood pressure. Over time, they become hardened. This often occurs as people age. High blood pressure also speeds this process. Blood vessel damage is bad because hardened or narrowed arteries may be unable to supply the amount of blood the body’s organs need. If the body’s organs, especially the heart, do not get enough blood, they cannot function properly.

Treating high blood pressure early can decrease the chances of having heart problems in later life. A healthy diet and healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise and managing stress, help control high blood pressure. Healthcare providers often recommend these methods to control blood pressure before prescribing medications.

There are many drugs that can lower high blood pressure. Some rid the body of excess fluids and salt. Others reduce the heart rate and blood pressure by allowing the walls of the blood vessels to widen.

People with high blood pressure should:

follow the advice of their healthcare provider

stay on their medication and follow all instructions

lose weight if overweight

stop smoking

exercise 30 to 60 minutes every day and

eat heart healthy foods

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENTS

All of us, when we are excited or afraid, have an increase in our pulse and a rise in the pressure inside our blood vessels. Many people have this kind of increase in pressure even when they are not excited or afraid. This condition is called “High Blood Pressure.”High blood pressure is considered a silent killer, because most people with this disease have no symptoms. Over time, this increase in blood pressure can damage the blood vessels or vital organs. This can lead to strokes, heart disease, or kidney disease. High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease.

Treating high blood pressure early can decrease the chances of having heart problems in later life. A healthy diet and healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise and managing stress, help control high blood pressure. Some people with mild hypertension can lower their blood pressure by using less salt. Alcohol intake of more than two ounces daily should be avoided because it raises blood pressure in some people. Blood pressure also returns to normal in many obese people when they lose weight. Healthcare providers often recommend these methods to control blood pressure before turning to medications.

There are many drugs available to lower high blood pressure. Some rid the body of excess fluids and salt. Others reduce the heart rate and blood pressure by allowing the walls of the blood vessels to widen. Not all people respond to a specific blood pressure medication. Therefore, many patients must go through a trial period to find out which drugs are most effective while causing the fewest side effects.

If you have high blood pressure, remember:

follow your doctor’s advice

stay on your medication even if you are feeling fine