High blood pressure: The force who strikes your heart silently

High blood pressure (HBP) is such a "sneaky" condition, because it may be unadvertised for a long time. When arteries are "stretch" or less flexible suffer inflammation. A strong pressure force takes place, against your wall arteries when the heart pumps out blood. If that pressure rises and stays high, with time it may produce higher damage.

At least 1 out of every 3 individuals should be reading this article, because that's the rate of people with such condition in the United States, but other countries are not far, as the graphic shows, HBP is the highest of risk factors for health in all countries. 7.5 millions of deaths were attributed to the factor of HBP, which means 13% of total deaths worldwide!

Graphic from WHO of 19 leading health risk factors.

See any reason why would it be important to know your blood pressure numbers? Yes, because there must be two measurements given in mmHg units: Systolic pressure, identified while heart is pumping blood, and Diastolic pressure, while the heart is at rest between beats.

If you check your pressure during the day, it is possible you find out variations, and is normal, but if you see a tendency to a higher number, then there's no reason to delay a visit to your doctor.

Here, a video to understand what HBP could implicate

High blood pressure numbers

The ranges in the table apply to most adults from 18 and older.

Above 120/80 mmHg the risk is higher. Fortunately prevention measures may help to control pressure and avoid falling into hypertension (HBP condition) or if you already have it, you may still control it.

As you see in the graphic, there are levels for High Blood Pressure, so if you happen to be above 160 mmHg your risk is out of question and you need to do something about it! Check out diabetics, people with a chronic kidney disease or in menopause stage tend to have a higher blood pressure rate.

Then it's important to know that:

+ High Blood Pressure tends to rise with age. I don't need to tell you the magic formula to avoid it or control it but I will anyway: Maintain a healthy lifestyle, a correct diet and to stay physically active.

+ Obviously if you have the condition you'll need then to make the things included in the magic formula and add you must follow your doctor instructions and stick to the treatment plan.


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