Hypertension - Blood Pressure

 Blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force on the artery walls as blood passes through them. This helps to force blood into the arteries smooth flowing. With each heartbeat, blood is released from the left ventricle in a tangled network of blood vessels spread throughout the body. To make this system could work and to maintain all five liters of blood circulating in the body, requires a certain amount of pressure.

Measuring blood pressure?

The height of blood pressure is determined by measuring the pressure in the arteries. This is done by using pressure gauges. Blood pressure is expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Measured pressure express two figures. Both are equally important.

The first indicates the systolic pressure - the height of pressure in the arteries when the heart is too tight (which is called systole) and releases blood into the aorta. The second number is the diastolic pressure, which indicates the amount of pressure that remains in the arteries between beats when the heart relaxes, and when filled with blood (which is called diastole).

The measured values?

Two figures (systole and diastole) is usually written in the form of razlomka.Optimalan blood pressure in adults is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. When you measure your blood pressure get information on the amount of pressure at the time of measurement. During the day, the pressure is naturally replaced. Increases during the active period when the heart must work harder, for example during exercise. Soothes when resting and need less cardiac activity, as when we sleep. Pressure also changes with changes in body position, like when you get up from lying to sitting or standing position. Food, alcohol, pain, stress and strong emotions also raise blood pressure. Such are the ups and downs completely normal, a change in the period of 24 hours are known as the 24 - hour rhythm.

What is high pressure?

When a complex system for regulating blood pressure is not functioning properly, can lead to excessive increase in pressure in the arteries. Increased pressure in the arteries that takes a long time is called high blood pressure. The medical name for this condition is hypertension, which indicates a high tension in the arteries. Pressure is considered high if the systolic pressure is always 140 mm Hg or higher, and diastolic 90 mm Hg or higher, or both. ! Doctors had previously thought that diastolic blood pressure - blood pressure between heart beats - a better indicator of health risks associated with elevated blood pressure than systolic pressure - the pressure when the heart is too tight. However, it is not so. Studies have shown that a high systolic pressure is more important and serious warning sign of possible health risks, particularly in the elderly. For people in that age group, controlling systolic blood pressure significantly contributes to health improvemen.

What is the cause of hypertension?

There are two types of hypertension - primary and secondary. The primary common. Between 90 and 95% of people with high blood pressure are the primary form of which is called essential hypertension. Primary high blood pressure differs from the secondary because there is no apparent cause. Most people with high blood pressure is difficult to determine exactly what raises their blood pressure. More likely is the primary high blood pressure result of a combination of factors associated with: vascular movement (shrinkage and expansion), increased amount of fluid in the blood, the functioning of the sensor of blood flow (baroreceptori), production of chemical substances that affect the function of blood vessels, secretion of hormones, the amount of blood that heart pumps, the control of cardiac nerve - the circulatory system. In 50-10% of cases of high pressure, the cause can be determined. This is called secondary hypertension because the disease is caused by - or has side effects - some other disease or disorder (kidney disease, renal artery obstruction, aortic stenosis, etc.).

Detection of high blood pressure

High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it often has no symptoms or warning signs about the problem. It is possible for years to have high blood pressure, and that it does not even know. Most frequently detected during regular systematic medical examination. If left untreated, high blood pressure can damage body organs and tissues. The higher the degree of high blood pressure and what more is left untreated, the greater the risk of adverse consequences. Organs that are most susceptible to adverse influence of high pressure are the arteries, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. When associated with other adverse factors such as the diabetes, obesity or smoking, the risk of harmful effects of high pressure is even greater.

CROATIA?

The results of a study conducted 1997th in the First Croatian Health Project show that in our 27.7% of persons aged 18-65 years had blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg, and in old age the prevalence is even higher. Significantly higher prevalence of hypertension was found in males (31.9%) than women (23.6%). According to estimates in Croatia, about 800 000 people suffering from hypertension.  

Measuring the importance of regular pressure?

High blood pressure is not a disease you can cure, and then forget. It is a condition that must be constantly monitored for life. Controlling high blood pressure, measuring pressure at home, proper use of medications, proper diet and exercise program, regular visits to the doctor - are essential. All this will greatly increase your chances for a longer and healthier life, despite high pressure. If your pressure is well controlled, it is often sufficient to check it yourself two or three times a month.

Lifestyle changes?

It is often possible to prevent high blood pressure. Pressure and the risk of other cardio-vascular diseases can be lowered by removing or modifying risk factors you can control. They include: 1st Quitting smoking - the most important measures in prevention of cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV disease. 2nd Weight loss - but the effect on hypertension has a beneficial effect on other risk factors (hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, left ventricular hypertrophy), 3rd Reduce intake of alcohol - hypertensive patients who drink alcohol should limit daily intake to 20-30 g of ethanol for men and 10-20 g of ethanol for women. 4th Reduce salt intake - limit salt intake to less than 100 mmol sodium (Na) per day (5.8 g salt). Advise the patient to avoid salty foods, and additional salt intake. 5th Increased physical activity - brisk walking or swimming for 30 - 45 min, three to four times a week. 6th Other dietary measures - hypertensive patient is advised to take more fruits and vegetables, fish, and less saturated fat.

Note! 

According to the old popular belief it was thought that the ideal systolic pressure is 100 plus the number of years. That's not true! According to this rule, the age you can cheat and give you to think that high blood pressure - normal.