Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can also be called hypertension. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. The higher your blood pressure the greater your risk of developing narrowed arteries which can lead to heart problems, kidney disease and strokes.

Anyone can develop high blood pressure and it doesn’t always have an obvious cause. If you have persistent high blood pressure, the condition is called hypertension.

High blood pressure tends to run in families. Blood pressure will also increase, as you get older. This may be why heart attacks are more common in older people. In a few cases high blood pressure can be related to another medical condition.

There are many other elements that contribute to high blood pressure that can be avoided, such as being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise and a poor diet. 

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 What are the Dangers of having High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure in itself is not a disease, but it can cause serious health problems such as, heart disease and strokes. You are also more likely to suffer from kidney damage or failure.

The risk of developing one or more of these serious health conditions increases as blood pressure rises. To help physicians and patients better understand the dangers associated with high blood pressure, blood pressure measurements have been ranked into categories based on increasing severity. The following categories apply to adults (age 18 and over) who are not taking medicine for high blood pressure and do not have a serious short–term illness

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 How Can I Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure?

A healthy lifestyle can help prevent high blood pressure. For a healthy lifestyle you should cut down on salt intake and watch your weight, find a weight that is right for you and try to stick to it. You should also give up smoking, drink less alcohol, eat a balanced healthy diet and get regular exercise.

If these measures are not successful in lowering blood pressure, then there is a wide range of drugs available to treat high blood pressure. Your doctor will help you decide what treatment is right for you. Some women experience high blood pressure because of the contraceptive pill, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure if you are on the pill. High blood pressure can also occur during pregnancy and usually returns to normal after the birth, always consult your doctor if you are worried.

In the UK, about half of people over 65, and about 1 in 4 middle aged adults, have high blood pressure. It is less common in younger adults. Most cases are mildly high (between 140/90 and 160/100 mmHg). However, at least 1 in 20 adults have blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg or above.

Following the physical examination, a number of tests will often be ordered, which include: Urinalysis, various blood tests, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Chest x-ray to rule out an enlarged heart.          

A great way of checking your blood pressure is through your very own blood pressure monitor, which provides you with immediate and accurate results.  Regularly checking your blood pressure results will help you plan towards a healthier lifestyle and cut down unnecessary visits to your doctor.

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 Blood Pressure in Children

Children, even very young babies, can have high blood pressure. In childhood, blood pressure normally rises with age. High blood pressure in childhood is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke in adulthood or kidney disease also. The major reason of high blood pressure in children is overweight. Children who are overweight usually have higher blood pressure than those who aren't overweight.

To reduce childhood obesity and children's blood pressures, reduce the amount of salt in the daily diet.

The UK Government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommends the following daily salt intakes:

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