High Blood Pressure

Hmm Another important topic to talk about right? but what really is high blood pressure and it's risk and effects? What are the causes in having a high blood pressure? Know all the answers of these questions.

First lets know what high blood pressure is:

High blood pressure intensify your possibility (or risk) for having a heart ailment and/or kidney ailment, and for having a stroke. It is above all hazardous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. Despite of race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. It is estimated that one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it typically lasts a lifetime. You can avoid and control high blood pressure by taking action.

Risk and effects of blood pressure:

* Brain

Effect: Stroke

High blood pressure is the most vital risk aspect for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a shatter in a destabilized blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, it can also cause a stroke.


* Eyes
Effect: Impaired Vision

High blood pressure can ultimately cause blood vessels in the eye to rupture or bleed. Vision may become unclear or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness.



* Arteries

As people get older, arteries all over the body "solidify," mostly those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is linked with these "stiffer" arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder.




* Kidneys
Effect: Kidney Damage

The kidneys perform as filters to clear the body of wastes. Over time, high blood pressure can slender and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may not function well. When this happens, medical treatment (dialysis) or a kidney transplant may be needed.


* Heart

Effects: Heart Attack and Congestive Heart failure

High blood pressure is a main risk issue for heart attack. The arteries transport oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, also known as "angina," can happen. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results.
High blood pressure is the number one risk aspect for congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is a grave condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to provide the body's needs.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

The causes of high blood pressure differ. Causes may comprise narrowing of the arteries, a greater than normal volume of blood, or the heart beating faster or more forcefully than it should. Any of these circumstances will cause increased pressure against the artery walls. High blood pressure might also be caused by another medical problem. Most of the time, the cause is not known. Although high blood pressure usually cannot be cured, in most cases it can be prevented and controlled.

Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/hbp/intro.htm