by Mario Carini

Created on: May 27, 2010

In today's world of high stress, faulty diets and pollutants, blood pressure is a major concern. While many are aware of the heath problems associated with HBP, many people feel powerless to control this disease that affects and shortens so many lives.

In a nutshell HBP is a measure of how much pressure your blood exerts on the walls of your arteries on each beat of your heart. The first order of business for every doctor is to test your blood pressure as soon as you enter his office. While that meter on the wall may not mean much to you, the doctor can determine how your blood pressure is likely to hurt your health. A high reading may not be indicative that you have a problem as some people experience higher rates when they visit their doctors. It requires several readings before an average level determines if  you are hypertense.

There are two numbers associated with every blood pressure reading. Systolic pressure measures the pressure exerted on every beat of the heart while the diastolic reads the pressure between those beats when the heart is resting. Normal pressure is assumed to be 120 over 80.

Constant high blood pressure can seriously impact health. When we are threatened, heartbeat increases and pumps more blood through the veins to create what is called the “fight or flight” response. When faced with danger, your blood pressure increase so you can run faster and farther from the danger. Or conversely, it gives you the strength to fight the danger. Once the danger passes, the heart returns to a normal beat.

But in today's world many people are in a perpetual fight or flight mode. The heart becomes overtaxed with pumping blood when there is no perceptible threat to the body. Unfortunately, this continuous state of tension is what eventually leads to strokes, heart attacks and a shortened life expectancy. The heart is not meant to exist in a perpetual state of urgency.

There are many causes that could lead to a state of hypertension.

* Obesity is a major factor as the blood needs to pump more to keep up circulation through veins which are often clogged with cholesterol and plaque.

* Smoking has been shown to increase blood pressure. Quitting the habit helps reduce blood pressure to near normal levels within 48 hours of the last cigarette.

* Diabetics are often hypertense, though it's debatable whether diabetes causes HBP or HBP brings on diabetes.

* Lack of exercise. Many people live a sedentary lifestyle. The body is meant

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