What Is High Blood Pressure – Can Eating Chocolate Really Help Lower It?
What is High Blood Pressure? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a disease associated with the arteries. Arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the pumping heart to other tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not indicate excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension can lead to an increase of blood pressure for the time being. In general, normal blood pressure is below 120/80. When blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89, pre-hypertension occurs. When blood pressure is 140/90 or above, it is considered high. Uncomplicated high blood pressure usually takes place without any symptoms, so people often call hypertension as the silent killer. The disease may finally lead to any one or more of the several potentially fatal complications like heart attacks or strokes.
What is High Blood Pressure measuring instrument? Usually, the blood pressure is measured with a portable instrument with a small size called a blood pressure cuff. The blood pressure cuff is made up of an air pump, a pressure gauge, and a rubber cuff. The blood pressure is measured by the instrument in units called millimeters of mercury.
High blood pressure usually has two forms, including essential hypertension and secondary hypertension. The former is a much more common form and the quantity of the related patients account for 95% of the quantity of patients who have hypertension. The cause that leads to essential hypertension is multifactorial. In other word, there are several factors that are combined together to produce hypertension. As for secondary hypertension, which accounts for 5% of hypertension, the high blood pressure is caused due to a specific abnormality in one of the organs or systems of the body.
What is High Blood Pressure treatment? Those who have high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure with the lifestyle changes as follows. Firstly, lose weight if they are too fat. Secondly, give up the habit of smoking. Thirdly, have a healthy diet. Fourthly, reduce the amount of sodium in your diet to less than 1,500 milligrams per day. Fifthly, do regular aerobic exercise , such as brisk walking at least half an hour a day. Sixthly, two drinks a day are good for men. For women, one drink a day is advised.
In addition, there are several types of drugs for treating high blood pressure, including Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers, alpha-agonists, renin inhibitors and combination medications.
Resource from: What Is High Blood Pressure and Cardiologist Singapore