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Hypertension
What
is Hypertension?
When the
heart beats, it generates a force exerted against artery walls,
known as blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured by testing
the force needed to stop blood from flowing through the arteries
away from the heart. When a blood pressure test is performed,
a test result will yield two numbers.
The first number is known as the systolic number. It measures
the pressure when the heart beats. The second number, known
as the diastolic number, measures the pressure between heart
beats, when the heart is at rest. A normal blood pressure
for a healthy adult is 120/80.
Diagnosing
and treating hypertension is very important because it can
lead to a number of other diseases, such as heart disease,
stroke and kidney failure.
Statistics
Hypertension,
more commonly known as high blood pressure, is a serious condition
that affects approximately one quarter of all Americans. Hypertension
is commonly known as the silent killer because of the lack
of any noticeable conditions. If not treated, hypertension
can lead to many more serious conditions that can ultimately
prove fatal.
Who
is Affected by Hypertension?
Everyone
is susceptible to developing hypertension, but some groups
are at greater risk than others. Those most at risk are:
- People
with a history of hypertension in their family
- Overweight
people
- African
Americans
- Senior
Citizens
You are
also at a higher risk to develop hypertension if you:
- Smoke
- Drink
alcohol frequently
- Are
pregnant or on birth control pills
- On
a high salt diet
- Are
an inactive person
-Living
with Hypertension-
How
is Hypertension Controlled?
If you
have hypertension, there are ways of controlling your condition.
The following lifestyle changes must be made:
- Exercise
regularly - Fifteen to 45 minutes, three-four times a week
of aerobic exercise every week is recommended by doctors.
Swimming, walking, jogging, riding a bike and dancing are
all excellent forms of aerobic exercise.
- Eat
Healthy - Avoid foods with high salt and high fat content.
Doctors suggest eating more fruit, vegetables, chicken,
fish, pasta and low-fat dairy products.
- Control
alcohol - Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one-two
drinks a day.
- Stop
smoking - If you are serious about controlling hypertension,
you must, at all costs, stop smoking.
In some
serious cases, doctors will prescribe medication to help control
hypertension. The best prevention is to see your doctor and
have a blood pressure checkup at least once a year.
For
More Information About Hypertension, Please Call Your Physician.
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