Essentialhypertension (3)As blood is pumped throughyour body, it exerts
pressure on the walls of your arteries. The
systolic bloodpressure is the pressure against these walls when the
heart contracts, and thediastolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart relaxes. When you get ablood pressure reading, you are told the systolic pressure/
diastolic pressure.For example, normal bloodpressure is below 120/80.
High blood pressure, alsocalled
hypertension, occurs when the systolic pressureis consistently over 140 mm Hg, or the diastolic blood pressure is consistentlyover 90 mm Hg. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped, bythe actions of the heart, and by the size and
condition of the arteries. Manyother factors can affect blood pressure including the water volume in the body;salt content of the body; condition of the kidneys, nervous system, or bloodvessels; and various hormone levels in the body.Prehypertension is whenyour systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressureis between 90 and 99. If you have prehypertension, you are likely to develophigh blood pressure at some point. Therefore, your doctor will recommendlifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to normal ranges.Prevention and ScreeningHave yourblood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure is in the high normalrange (130-139/85-89), have it rechecked once a year. Follow yourdoctor's recommendations for lowering your blood pressure. Exercisecan help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure. Your doctor may adviseyou to limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol can interfere with your heart'spumping ability, and reduce the effectiveness of some hypertension medications.If you have extremely high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend that youabstain from alcohol until your condition is under control.Increasing your intake of potassium, which is found in many fruits andvegetables, may help reduce your blood pressure. Lower your salt intake toreduce your risk of developing hypertension. The interventions and length ofstay depend on the nature of your hypertension-related problem. Self CareMany of therecommendations for reducing your blood pressure require you to change yourlifestyle. Drug TherapyYour doctoris the best source of information on the drug treatment choices available toyou.Your doctoralso may recommend balloon angioplasty to open the damaged arteries, improveblood flow, and lower your blood pressure.Thiscondition (preeclampsia) can decrease the supply of blood and oxygen availableto the mother and developing baby. The cause of preeclampsia is not known.High bloodpressure may be a precursor of preeclampsia, so your doctor will watch youclosely for signs that your condition is worsening. A diagnosis of preeclampsiais given if you have high blood pressure and protein in your urine. A rapidincrease in your blood pressure is a sign that you may be developinghypertension. The fetal age and severity of the disease are some of the factorsthat will be used to make the decision. PrognosisHypertensioncan be controlled, although the success of treatment depends on the severity ofthe condition and compliance with your doctor's recommendations. You will needto see your doctor regularly to monitor your progress and make any necessaryadjustments to your therapy. If your blood pressure is in the high normal range(systolic pressure of 130 to 139 or diastolic pressure of 85 to 89), have it recheckedonce a year.
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