What is hypertension
February 1, 2010
Hypertension is high blood pressure problem; hypertension means high pressure or tension in the arteries. Arteries work like vessels that carry purified blood from heart to all other parts of body. Emotional tension, anxiety, and stress can impart adverse effect on blood pressure and may provoke serious undulation of blood pressure of an individual; when blood pressure is counted within the range of 120/80-139/89, it is called pre-hypertension condition. The blood pressure count at 140/90 or above this benchmark is considered as high blood pressure. The disease is called hypertension and the patient suffering from hypertension is called hypertensive.
The first number in blood pressure count [in 140/90, the number 140] stands for systolic blood pressure. It denotes the pressure in the arteries at the time when heart contracts to pump the blood forward. The second number [here 90] denotes diastolic pressure in the arteries at the time heart’s relaxation. The diastolic pressure represents the lowest pressure of artery-inside.
An elevation of the systolic and diastolic pressure is considered serious warning symptom of development of cardiac disease, renal malfunctioning problem, arteriosclerosis, optic damage, etc. Undulation and sudden increase of blood pressure may induce the problem of stroke which may cause brain damage. These serious health disorders are often mentioned as end-organ damage issues because any damaging disease of the pivotal organs in a body will lead toward fatal damage for the affected patients.
It is important to avoid these fatal conditions thus early diagnosis of hypertension and its general prevention are important in order to lead normal and healthy life. Equally it is also important to maintain normal blood pressure level; regular monitoring of blood pressure and relevant treatment should be continued for hypertensive patients.
It was assumed in recent past that rise in diastolic pressure poses more fatal risk on health system in comparison to systolic increase, but now it has been medically proved that the patients of 50 years or more of age are more at risk on undulation and sudden increase of systolic pressure.
Hypertension is life time disease that cannot be cured. But with regular monitoring and treatment, the complications can be controlled. It is always wise to do regular medical check ups of heart so that if there is any discrepancy, it can be treated from its early stage thus minimizes risk factors.
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