Wednesday 2 April 2014

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE







As a woman grows older, her blood pressure tends to rise because her artries are getting stiffer and less elastic. By the age of 70, one woman in three will have high blood pressure.To diagnose high blood pressure, your doctor will put a cuff around your arm and raise the pressure in the cuff until the blood flow below the cuff is stopped. The doctor will then release the pressure in the cuff slowly until the blood starts to flow again and the pulse can be detected by listening through a stethoscope. This gives the height of your blood pressure when your heart is breathing. The doctor continues to release the air in the cuff as he listens to your pulse until the beats cease. This measures your blood pressure when your heart is relaxed. The two measurements are recorded. If the reading exceeds 160/95 and this level or higher is found on three occassions at least three weeks apart,  you have high blood pressure.
One of the most dangerous aspects of  high blood pressure is that the person may not know he or she has it until the person goes for a  check up. Regular checkups is very important especially if  you have relatives who have it.
High blood pressure may present with the following symptoms;
1. Severe Headache
2. Chest Pain
3. Dizziness
4.Pounding feeling in the head or chest
5. Lightheadedness
CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
1. Stress
2. Smoking
3. Use of oral contraceptive in women
4. Diet high in saturated fat
5. A diet high in sait
6.Excessive alcohol intake
7.Overweight or obesity
8. Physical inactiveness
9. Diabetes
10. Pregnancy

High blood pressure can be treated by changing your life style to a more relaxed one and losing weight if you are obessed. Doctors also prescribe diuretic drugs which reduce the blood pressure  and increase your need to pass urine.                                                                                                                                                                                      








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