Normal blood pressure is 120/80. What is hypertension or high blood pressure? Who is at greatest risk for developing it? Kathy Ianuzzo, RN, of Saint Peter’s Community Mobile Health (CMHS), explains the numbers and risks. CMHS can be found throughout the area on a daily basis providing blood pressure screenings.
Some additional info on this last one — Call 732-745-8600, ext 8903, to schedule a screening at community venues such as senior centers, churches, schools and corporate sites.
Learn more about Hypertension: http://www.saintpetershcs.com/cmhs
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Hypertension is a term used to describe high blood pressure. What blood pressure is, is a measurement of the force of the blood as it pumps through your arteries. A normal blood pressure is 120 over 80. The two numbers in a blood pressure, the top number should not be greater than 120, and the lower number should not be greater than 80. The top number is called your systolic pressure and that is a measurement of the force in the arteries as your heart pumps blood. The bottom number is called diastolic blood pressure and that is the measurement of force in the arteries when your heart is at rest.
Anywhere from 120 over 80 to 140 over 90 would be considered pre-hypertension. Pre-hypertension often leads to high blood pressure, hypertension. Anything greater than 140 over 90 is considered high blood pressure or hypertension.
The people at greatest risk for hypertension are African-Americans, also if you have a family history of hypertension, and that’s why it’s important to know your family history. People who are obese are also at great risk for developing hypertension and long-term stress increases the risk for hypertension. Smoking cigarettes, taking drugs, both street and over-the-counter medication are risks for developing high blood pressure and diabetes also puts you at risk for high blood pressure.
The symptoms of a high blood pressure are sometimes very vague. It could be something just a simple as headache, also confusion, any visual disturbances. Sometimes nausea and vomiting could also be a sign of high blood pressure and nose bleeds. However, it’s important to note that hypertension is called the silent killer because you may be walking around with a very, very high blood pressure and have absolutely no symptoms at all. That’s why it is wise to have your blood pressure checked frequently because although you may be feeling perfectly fine, you could have high blood pressure.
While there are many causes of hypertension some of the greatest causes would be conditions of the kidney, conditions of the blood vessels and of the nervous system, increased cholesterol also contributes to hypertension and of course, age. As we age, our blood vessels become stiff and that increases our blood pressure. The water and salt ratio in our body contributes to high blood pressure, and also certain hormone levels would also contribute to high blood pressure. Thank you for choosing Saint Peter’s.
(USMLE topics, cardiology) Blood pressure: systolic and diastolic; hypertension: guidelines, causes, risk factors, complications, treatment, antihypertensive drugs.
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Blood pressure is the force the circulating blood EXERTS on the walls of blood vessels. It is different in different types of vessels, but the term ”blood pressure”, when not specified otherwise, refers to ARTERIAL pressure in the SYSTEMIC circulation.
When the heart contracts and pumps blood into the aorta, during systole, the aortic pressure RISES, and so does the systemic arterial pressure. The maximum pressure following an ejection is called the SYSTOLIC pressure. In between heart beats, when the ventricles refill, blood pressure FALLS to its lowest value called the DIASTOLIC pressure. THESE are the 2 numbers on a blood pressure reading.
Blood pressure normally shows a daily pattern and is usually lower at night. During day-time, it fluctuates with physical activities and emotional states.
Hypertension refers to a PERSISTENT HIGH blood pressure. In the US, high blood pressure used to be defined as greater than 140/90, but recent guidelines have changed these values to 130/80 to better prevent and treat the condition. Normal blood pressure is BELOW 120/80. In practice, blood pressure is considered TOO low ONLY if it produces symptoms.
Hypertension does NOT cause symptoms on its own, but it slowly DAMAGES blood vessels, and in the long-term, is a MAJOR risk factor for a variety of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, aneurysm and heart attack; as well as end organ damage such as renal failure or vision loss. For this reason, hypertension is known as the “SILENT killer”.
Hypertension can be classified as primary or secondary, with the former being responsible for over 90% of cases. Primary hypertension has NO apparent cause and may develop as a result of old age, obesity, high-salt diet, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking. Most commonly, the blood vessels are hardened with age or unhealthy diets, making it harder for blood to flow.
Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, is caused by an underlying condition. Many conditions and factors can cause hypertension; most notable are kidney problems and endocrine disturbances.
Regardless of the cause, the INcrease in blood pressure is produced by EITHER an INcrease in vascular resistance – narrower or stiffer blood vessels; OR an INcrease in cardiac output – larger volume of blood pumped out by the heart. These 2 factors are the targets of antihypertensive drugs.
Treatments must start with life style changes such as healthy, low-sodium diets, physical exercise and stress management. On top of that, antihypertensive agents may be used to control hypertension. These include:
– Vasodilators: these drugs DILATE blood vessels, thereby DEcreasing vascular resistance and reducing blood pressure.
– Diuretics: diuretics promote sodium and water removal by the kidneys and thereby DEcrease blood volume.
– Drugs that DEcrease cardiac output by decreasing heart rate or contractility, may also be used to treat hypertension.
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