by SMT

Created on: February 15, 2009   Last Updated: March 15, 2009

Hypertension is synonymous with the term High Blood Pressure (HBP) and is one the leading causes of mortality in the United States. The irony of hypertension is, suffers are often times asymptomatic giving the disease the name tag of "the silent killer" among the medical community. Because of it's insidious nature not presenting physical symptoms in affected patients in the early onset of the condition, many go untreated until it manifests into a serious problem.

Undetected or untreated High Blood Pressure can be fatal by not only placing high stress on the heart, but it can also cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and the brain. Hypertensive patients may also experience serious complications to other conditions they may be suffering from including: atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries caused by plaque build-up), diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, and even erectile dysfunction.

Nearly one third of all patients with Hypertension are completely unaware of the ticking time bomb inside their chest, as their heart exerts a greater work load placing stress and strain on vessels and arteries throughout the circulatory system. There are numerous causes of high blood pressure and being aware of those contributions can aid one in determining if there is cause for concern and if one suffers from an elevated risk profile.The exact causes of hypertension are not concretely determined, but those with kidney disease, hereditary factors, those who smoke or suffer from chronic stress, and lack of physical exercise and poor diet that both contribute to being overweight or obese are common factors in those suffering from high blood pressure.

Physical symptoms will only generally present themselves in those that are suffering from extremely high blood pressure for an extended period of time with warning signs that include: headaches, fatigue, confusion, vision problems, bloody urine, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat. These are all serious causes for concern and should warrant an immediate visit to your doctor for further evaluation, as they may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Diagnosing Hypertension is a simple and easy process that involves taking systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements with a cuff and pressure meter called a sphygmomanometer. The systolic pressure (the larger number of the two readings), represents the contraction the ventricles as they push blood throughout the circulatory system.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>