The number of people suffering from high blood pressure is reaching epidemic proportions with almost 74 million people suffering from the disorder in the US alone. The added stress of our fast paced lifestyle is finally taking its toll on our health. However, high blood pressure is certainly not a disorder that should be ignored since it is often the prelude to numerous chronic and acute ailments including card in vascular disorders.
What is high blood pressure? is the force exerted on the arterial walls by the blood flowing through the arteries. The normal blood pressure of an adult should be below 120/80; however generally a value that lies in the range of 120/80 to 140/90 is considered normal. The two figures stand for systolic and diastolic pressure respectively. The systolic pressure is the force exerted by the flowing blood while the heart beats and the diastolic pressure is the force exerted between beats or when the heart is at rest.
The Dangers of High Blood Pressure (HBP): can have long standing effects on the body and can prove detrimental to several vital organs in the body such as:
The Heart: This is the one organ that bears the maximum brunt of high pressure; the muscles of the heart weaken when subjected to continuously elevated blood pressure and if not checked in time, the condition may worsen and lead to a heart attack or even a cardiac failure.
Some people may also suffer from a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy which is the enlargement of the left ventricle. Because the heart muscles have to work overtime to pump blood to the organs in patients who suffer from High Blood Pressure the ventricle may grow in size. The condition greatly augments the risk of heart failure and heart attack.
The arteries: The arterial walls are damaged because of High Pressure leading to a condition known as arteriosclerosis where the walls harden and become stiff. This ailment may eventually help in the accumulation of plaque in the arterial walls leading to arterial blockages.
Aneurysm: In this condition a part of an artery develops a bulge due to the constant exposure to high pressure. This bulge may rupture and cause life threatening internal bleeding. It can also cause damage to the vital organs because any artery can develop aneurysm.
The Brain: Since arterial blockage can occur in any blood vessel, there are chances of people with high pressure suffering from a stroke. This is momentary stoppage of blood supply to the neural cells which may result in the death of certain part of the brain
High pressure may also lead to dementia which causes impairment in the ability to think, make decisions, understand, reason and see. This condition is primarily caused due to a lack of oxygen to the brain. It may also occur as an aftermath of a stroke. The kidneys and the Liver: Like the brain, the kidneys and the liver may also be starved of oxygen and vital nutrients in case of a stroke or due to arterial blockages which may result in a renal failure.
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