Chronic Diseases

What Is Hypertension and How Do You Deal With It?

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High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is like a silent ninja. Your arteries narrow over time from cholesterol build up, causing your heart to work over-time and before you know it, you’re having a heart attack at 40. Other risks include stroke, diabetes, lung failure, kidney failure, glaucoma, and the list goes on and on. However, the good news is that your general practitioner can easily detect this condition, as well as high cholesterol, in a routine check up and the effects can be reversed through diet, lifestyle changes and medication.

If you are hypertensive, then it can be caused by many lifestyle choices. For instance, a 2005 study found that women who took 500 mg of Tylenol each day for headaches or pains were more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who did not. Users of cocaine and amphetamines, as well as smokers, were also more at risk. High body fat, high salt intake, low potassium intake, high cholesterol levels, inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and high stress are often linked to hypertension as well. Health experts say that this condition isn’t so cut-and-dry, that poor lifestyle choices aren’t always the culprit. Some people are just at risk because they’re aging, pregnant or born into a family with a history of high blood pressure.

You should be tested for hypertension every two years. An inflatable arm cuff will measure the blood flow through your bicep and painlessly report the status of your arteries and heart activity. The first number the doctor reads indicates the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, also known as systolic pressure. This number should be below 120, ideally 115. The second number your doctor reads measures the pressure in your arteries between beats, which is also known as diastolic pressure. This number should be less than 80, ideally 75. Anything higher puts you at risk for congestive heart failure, strokes, kidney disease or some other ailment.

A 2006 study found that adults who worked more than 40-50 hours per week were more likely to have high blood pressure and poor heart health than those who worked less than 40 hours. While hard work may be the “American way” and has become a necessity for many families across the US, health experts say that it’s taking its toll on our sleep, our diets and our time set aside to spend relaxing or exercising. All these factors make us more susceptible to hypertension and an untimely death. Perhaps, if we just take a moment to examine our lifestyle choices, then we can add another 10 years onto our lives.

As we get older there are essential numbers that start to weigh heavily upon us. We have to concern ourselves about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. These are some of the things that most of us have ignored for the vast majority of our lives now all of a sudden they have significant importance. But these are some of the thing that should never have been pushed aside. A lifetime of misuse on the body returns only damaging things when left unchecked.

Your cholesterol level is certainly essential if you want to remain healthy and your body functioning right. High levels has the ability to lead lead to heart attacks and stroke, both of these things you do not want to have to contend with. Being mindful about your cholesterol level is not just for the elderly. It is something both young and old have to be concerned with and be aware of if they want to lead a healthy life. In this article we will go over the basics of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand just how crucial a healthy level is to your body and peace of mind.

What is good cholesterol?

Good cholesterol is called HDL which is high-density lipoproteins. Doctor’s believe that the high levels of HDL can actually protect your heart whereas low levels of HDL can increase your risk of heart disease. It is thought that HDL can carry cholesterol away from your arteries and back to the liver where it is passed from the body.

How can you keep from getting high cholesterol?

You can help take steps against having too much LDL cholesterol in your body by exercising, not smoking and eating right. These three things are the primary reasons why people have excessive LDL. Yes, some of your cholesterol levels have to do with family history but doctors have proven time and time again that a diet rich in fish and Omega-3 along with a healthy weight will reduce the overall LDL numbers. The body needs to have plenty of exercise as well.

In what way is the blockage from the arteries removed?

The initial stage is through medicines however if there is a acute contracting or blockage in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more invasive procedure is needed. The actual procedures may change but one popular method is through a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is inserted into the artery and then naviagted to the obstruction where the plaque build up has taken place. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the routine is minimally intrusive and the majority of patients are able to going home on that very day.

How do I know what my cholesterol is?

Well in order to know what your cholesterol is you should have a blood cholesterol testing performed at least every five years. The most recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein blood profile. This test measures not only your total cholesterol but it also specifies the LDL and the HDL levels. It is a great idea to be knowledgeable about where your numbers are and to ensure that they are in the proper healthy range.

To discover more head on over to Hdl Cholesterol similarly High Cholesterol in addition to Symptoms Of High Cholesterol