What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure, sometimes called “arterial hypertension” is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. If the pressure exceeds the normal reading for a long time it might cause damage to the arteries and other parts of the body. High blood pressure in the Kingdom:
* The ratio of high blood pressure in the Kingdom reaches 21.3 percent in the age group of 15 years and above. This is according to a study conducted by the Health Ministry in 2005. How blood pressure is measured? It is measured by a certain scale which gives two types of reading: the systolic (top reading) and the diastolic (bottom reading) which is, for instances, written: 120/80. In normal cases, the top reading of the high blood pressure is less than 120 while the bottom reading is less than 80. The verge level just before someone is diagnosed as a high-blood-pressure patient is 139-120 systolic and 80-89 diastolic. In cases of high blood pressure, the systolic reading is 140 and above and the diastolic is 90 and above. What are the causes of high blood pressure? In most cases there is no clear cause for high blood pressure. However there are many factors that might cause what is called primary or essential high blood pressure that are:
* Excessive weight or obesity: People who are overweight or obese are more likely to get hypertension. * Unhealthy foods, which include: 1. Excessive intake of salt-rich foods such as burger, pizza, pickles, salty cheese, potato chips and others. 2. Not taking enough quantities of food that is rich in potassium. 3. Lack of physical activities. 4. Smoking and drinking of alcohol. 5. History of the disease in one of the family members. 6. Psychological pressures including anxiety and depression. 7. Old age. Older people are more susceptible than others to get high blood pressure.
The second type of high blood pressure, which is known as “secondary”, is caused by other diseases in the body such as:
1. Chronic kidney diseases and thyroid gland. 2. Complications of diabetes. About 60 percent of diabetic patients are also having high blood pressure. When the level of sugar in the blood are not properly controlled, they sediment on the walls of the arteries thus damaging them. 3. Incorrect use of some medicines such as contraceptives and cortisone. Also treatment by hormones and some painkillers might cause hypertension. 4. Incorrect use of some herbal mixtures.
* Excessive use of sodium-rich foods might cause high blood pressure. They may also cause cardiac diseases and brain stroke. * Studies show that more than 70 percent of the salt comes from sodium-rich foods not the salt grains.
* Various kinds of fast food contain large contents of sodium such as burgers, pizza, sausages and sandwiches.
* Many ready-made foods have high contents of sodium including potato chips, pickles, cheese and some types of bread.
* A balanced use of these foods is advisable. Other healthy options may help reduce the quantities of sodium.
* For healthy people the quantity of daily salt consumption should not by more than six mg or a small teaspoon. It must be much less than this with the children suffering from high blood pressure and old people above 51.
* Make sure to read carefully the tags of tinned or packed food. Less than five percent of salt is too little while 20 percent or more is too much.
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
* The high blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because many people may suffer from it for a longtime without knowing it and without any clear symptoms appearing on them. When the symptoms appear they may be too late causing cardiac or kidney diseases. * In some rare cases high blood pressure may be accompanied by headaches, blurry vision and nose bleeds.
* Mostly the high blood pressure is discovered by chance during a visit to a doctor who will start his examination by checking the blood pressure. It is advisable that people above 18 years of age should routinely examine their blood pressure.
The complications of hypertension if not discovered early and treated:
* Heart failures and brain strokes. * Weakening of heart muscle.
