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What is High Blood Pressure?

When you have your blood pressure taken, your health care provider is measuring the pressure, or tension, that blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels as it travels around the body. In a healthy person, this pressure is just enough for the blood to reach all the cells of the body, but not so much that it strains blood vessel walls.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
· A typical normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, or "120 over 80."
· The first number represents the pressure when the heart contracts.
· The second number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes.
· Blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm Hg is considered high.
Generally, blood pressure will go up at certain times - for instance, if you smoke a cigarette, win the lottery, or witness a car crash - and will return to normal when the stressful or exciting event has passed.
But when blood pressure is high all the time, the continuous increased force on blood vessel walls can damage blood vessels and organs, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain.
The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension.
Need to Know:
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
Blood travels through blood vessels much like water through a garden hose. The blood in the vessels is under pressure just like the water in a hose when the tap is turned on.
With each heartbeat more blood is pumped into the vessels - like turning up the tap - so the pressure rises. This is the systolic blood pressure, the first number in the blood pressure measurement, which is normally around 120.
Between heartbeats, while the heart is resting, the pressure in the arteries is lower. This is the diastolic pressure, second number in the blood pressure measurement, which is normally around 80.

3.Indication of high blood pressure
You can increase the pressure in a hose either by turning up the tap or by putting a crimp in the hose (that is, by narrowing the hose). In this same way, the blood pressure in blood vessels will rise if fluid flows more forcefully or if the arteries are narrowed.
Pressure in a hose can be regulated either by controlling the rate at which fluid passes through it or by widening it. Likewise, the pressure in the blood vessels can be controlled, with medications that act on the heart or blood vessels and with certain lifestyle modifications.
Need to Know:
Although high blood pressure can be extremely dangerous, it usually causes no symptoms - so many people don't even realize they have it. High blood pressure can only be detected with accurate and repeated measurements of a person's blood pressure. That's one reason why it's so important to have regular medical checkups.
Even though high blood pressure can be treated safely and effectively, only about one-quarter of people who have high blood pressure take the necessary steps to keep their blood pressure within a normal range.

There are three types of hypertension:

Primary hypertension (essential hypertension). This is high blood pressure for which no cause can be found. Most people with high blood pressure (90 to 95 percent) have this type of hypertension. Doctors suspect that a combination of lifestyle, diet, heredity, age, gender, race/ethnicity, hormone levels, and other factors all contribute to high blood pressure.
Secondary hypertension (non-essential hypertension). This is high blood pressure for which a definite cause can be found. This type of high blood pressure accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of all cases of hypertension. Some of these causes are temporary or controllable - for instance, pregnancy or the use of certain medications - while others are chronic conditions like hormonal diseases, kidney disease, or head injuries.
Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). Older people are sometimes susceptible to another form of high blood pressure, called isolated systolic hypertension. In people with this condition, blood pressure is higher than normal when the heart beats, but returns to normal in between beats of the heart. The large difference in pressure can place additional strain on artery walls.
Nice To Know:
Q. If I do not feel any symptoms, is there still a problem?
A. Most people with high blood pressure do not experience any symptoms. The presence of symptoms, such as headache or blurry vision, usually indicates severe or long-standing hypertension. However, over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure causes significant damage to important organs including the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes. In a number of cases, this damage can lead to death. This is why high blood pressure is sometimes referred to as "the silent killer."
4. Facts about high blood pressure
High blood pressure is a condition in which the pressure, or tension, that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels goes up and stays high, which can damage the blood vessels, the heart, and other organs.
It is estimated that more than 50 million Americans have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is one of the most serious health problems in the United States; yet, because high blood pressure has no symptoms, millions of people do not even know they have it.
As many as one in four adults in the United States has high blood pressure.
High blood pressure affects people of all ages, racial and ethnic groups, and walks of life.
Doctors do not know what causes high blood pressure in 90 to 95 percent of people who have it.
High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for coronary heart disease.
High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke, which is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
High blood pressure is a common cause of heart failure, the leading cause of death in the United States
High blood pressure is a common cause of kidney disease.
What Factors Affect Blood Pressure?
Blood pumped through blood vessels is always under pressure, much like water that is pumped through a garden hose. This pressure is highest in the arteries closest to the heart and gradually decreases as the blood travels around the body.
Blood keeps moving around the body because there are differences in pressure in the blood vessels. Blood flows from higher-pressure areas to lower-pressure areas until it eventually returns to the heart.
5. Hypertension is much strain on your heart
Blood pressure is controlled by three things:
1 - How fast the heart beats (heart rate). The pace at which the heart beats, or heart rate, is counted in heartbeats per minute. Generally, when heart rate increases, blood pressure rises. When heart rate decreases, blood pressure drops.
2 - A number of things affect heart rate, including the body's nervous system; chemical messengers called hormones, body temperature, medications, and diseases.
3 - How much blood the heart pumps with each beat (stroke volume). The amount of blood pumped out of a ventricle with each heartbeat is called stroke volume. When you're resting, stroke volume is about the same as the amount of blood that veins carry back to the heart. But under stressful conditions, the nervous system can increase stroke volume by making the heart pump harder.
Stroke volume can also be affected by certain hormones, drugs, and diseases, as well as increases or decreases in the amount of blood in the body, called blood volume.
Nice To Know:
You might also hear the term "cardiac output" used to describe the amount of blood that's pumped through the body. Cardiac output is simply the amount of blood pumped out of a ventricle in one minute:
Cardiac output = Heart rate x Stroke volume (amount of blood pumped with each beat)
As cardiac output increases, so does blood pressure. This is why heart rate and stroke volume are important ways for the body to control blood pressure.
How difficult it is for blood to travel around the body (peripheral resistance). The third major component that affects the blood pressure is the caliber or width of the arteries. Blood traveling in narrower vessels encounters more resistance than blood traveling through a wider vessel (its harder for water to pass through a narrow pipe than a wide pipe).
Depending on what a person is doing, the amount of blood the heart pumps varies enormously. Yet the blood pressure normally remains pretty stable. That's mainly because the body adjusts the resistance of the arteries, either widening or narrowing the
m as appropriate, to prevent the blood pressure from swinging wildly.
This ability to regulate the width of the blood vessels is called the peripheral resistance. Most of the resistance to blood flow in the circulation occurs in the small-diameter arteries called arterioles.
These arterioles are especially important in the immediate regulation of blood pressure. That's because they contain specialized smooth muscle in their walls that can relax or contract, allowing the blood vessel to get wider or narrower.

1. The most important is the confidence level in the bystander. if Ur mom or dad is down with severe hypertension, and they are put on pills,please do not panic. you need to build up the confidence level in them, and make them feel, today is better than yesterday.This brings a good relief and this is the most important.

2.Side effects of the pills, will always be there. as you are taking a chemical that is going to intervene in the flow of blood and is going to the affect the  heart, that pumps the blood. nothing can be done about it .

3. Please have a very very strict regime on the diet intake. no salts / oils and spices.
Blood Pressure is not a disease, which can be done away with.  its an ailment with which u need to live the entire life, but if u are brave enough and fight it, you can lead a normal life... but with care.any doctors in the group, please correct me if am wrong.

Please find herewith the details of how it is caused.

In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown. In fact, you can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. That's why it's the silent killer it creeps up on you. When the cause is unknown, you have what's called essential or primary hypertension. Factors that may lead to high blood pressure in the remaining 5 to 10 percent of cases, which are known as secondary hypertension, include:
Kidney abnormality
A structural abnormality of the aorta (large blood vessel leaving the heart) existing since birth
Narrowing of certain arteries
These problems can usually be corrected. For example, doctors can repair a narrowed artery that supplies blood to a kidney. Most of these problems can be ruled out by a careful history, a physical examination and a few tests. Special tests are sometimes needed, but you don't usually have to stay in the hospital.

Your heart pumps blood through the body's arteries. The large arteries that leave your heart taper into smaller arteries called arterioles. The arterioles then taper into smaller vessels called capillaries, which supply oxygen and nutrients to all the organs of your body. The blood then returns to your heart through the veins.
Certain nerve impulses cause your arteries to dilate (become larger) or contract (become smaller). If these vessels are wide open, blood can flow through easily. If they're narrow, it's harder for the blood to flow through them, and the pressure inside them increases. Then high blood pressure may occur. When this happens, your heart becomes strained and blood vessels may become damaged. Changes in the vessels that supply blood to your kidneys and brain may cause these organs to be affected.
Your heart, brain and kidneys can handle increased pressure for a long time. That's why you can live for years without any symptoms or ill effects. But that doesn't mean it's not hurting you. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.

High blood pressure adds to the workload of your heart and arteries. Your heart must pump harder, and the arteries carry blood that's moving under greater pressure. If high blood pressure continues for a long time, your heart and arteries may not work as well as they should. Other body organs may also be affected. There is increased risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and heart attack. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

Within certain limits, the lower your blood pressure reading is, the better. In most people, blood pressure isn't too low until it produces symptoms, such as light headedness or fainting. In certain disease states, it's possible for blood pressure to be too low. Examples include:
Certain nerve or endocrine disorders
Prolonged bed rest
Decreases in blood volume due to severe bleeding (hemorrhage) or dehydration
Blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg is generally considered ideal. Levels higher than this increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. If you have unusually low blood pressure, have it evaluated.

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. In fact, many people have this disease for years without knowing it. Having high blood pressure (hypertension) doesn't mean you're tense, nervous or hyperactive. You can be a calm, relaxed person and still have hypertension. The only way to find out if you have this disease is to have your blood pressure checked! A blood pressure test is quick and painless. It can be done in a doctor's office, hospital clinic, school, nurse's office, company clinic or at a health fair.
A single high reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure, but it's a sign that you need to watch your blood pressure carefully. If your it's normal, get it checked at least every two years. If you have prehypertension, or if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you're at higher risk. Your doctor will tell you how often to have it checked.

Blood pressure is measured using a medical instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A rubber cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated. When the cuff is inflated, it compresses a large artery in your arm, momentarily stopping the blood flow.
Next, air in the cuff is released, and the person measuring the blood pressure listens with a stethoscope. When the blood starts to pulse through the artery, it makes a sound. Sounds continue to be heard until pressure in the artery exceeds the pressure in the cuff.
The person listens and watches the gauge, then records two measurements. Systolic pressure is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats (the pressure when the first sound is heard). Diastolic pressure is the pressure between heartbeats (the pressure when the last sound is heard). Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, which is abbreviated mm Hg.

Yes.  Children and adults with smaller or larger than average-sized arms may need special-sized cuffs. These are available in some pharmacies and from medical supply companies. They may also be ordered directly from companies that sell blood pressure cuffs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

1. Common symptoms of high blood pressure include nervousness, sweating and difficulty sleeping.Wrong.

High blood pressure has NO symptoms. That's why it's often called the silent killer.The only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked. Some people who look and feel fit and healthy may find that they have high blood pressure. Likewise, some people who have other risk factors for heart disease and/or stroke (such as being overweight or smoking) may not have high blood pressure. According to recent estimates, one in four U.S. adults has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don't know it. That puts them at risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and even blindness in some cases. Have you had your blood pressure checked recently?

2. Every time I go to the doctor, my blood pressure is high, but that's just because I am nervous. I'm sure my blood pressure is OK at home.

Some people may experience what's called white-coat hypertension when they're at the doctor's office. This means their blood pressure is elevated temporarily due to nervousness. Many things can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations and stress. Monitoring at home may be one way to measure your true blood pressure and give your doctor a log of blood pressure measurements over time. Even though there are factors that can affect your blood pressure, you should never ignore several readings that indicate you may have high blood pressure.

3. If you have high cholesterol, you automatically have high blood pressure.

False.  High blood cholesterol doesn't automatically lead to high blood pressure, but many of the same lifestyle habits that may increase blood cholesterol levels also may cause elevated blood pressure. Examples include a diet high in saturated fat, lack of physical activity and drinking too much alcohol. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, hardening of the arteries, congestive heart failure and/or kidney disease. In some cases, it can cause blindness. High blood pressure can only be detected by having it checked.

4. These days everyone has high blood pressure. It's just a fact of life, and I don't need to worry about it.

These are stressful times, and stress may add to your risk factors for high blood pressure. That's why it's so important to have your blood pressure checked. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Also, high blood pressure is the No. 1 modifiable risk factor for stroke. Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. That means about 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year; nearly 163,000 of them will die. Stroke is our nation's No. 3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. To learn more about other factors that can increase your risk of stroke and how to help prevent stroke.

5. I took my high blood pressure medication for a while, but I am feeling much better now. I figure it's OK to cut it back or even quit.

Absolutely not. High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled but not cured. If your doctor has prescribed medication for you, take it exactly as prescribed for as long as the doctor tells you to take it. Decreasing dosage or not taking the medication is dangerous. It's also important to make the right lifestyle changes by eating a low-salt, low-saturated-fat diet; maintaining a healthy weight; getting plenty of physical activity (30 to 60 minutes on most or all days of the week); and staying away from tobacco products. This will help control your blood pressure and thus reduce your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease.

6. High blood pressure is a man's problem.  I am a woman so I don't have to worry.

High blood pressure can be anyone's problem. In fact, women need to be aware of certain things that may put them at a greater risk for high blood pressure than men. If you're on the Pill, pregnant, overweight, postmenopausal, African American or have a family history of high blood pressure, you may be more likely to have high blood pressure. It's important to get the facts so you can reduce your risk for stroke, heart disease or kidney disease by controlling as many high blood pressure risk factors as you can.

7. I can take any kind of over-the-counter medications when I have a cold or the flu.

That's not true. People with high blood pressure should know that taking certain cold, cough and flu medications could be dangerous. Decongestants have been reported to increase blood pressure and may interfere with blood pressure medications. Many over-the-counter drugs can have a dangerous effect on certain heart conditions and increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. If you're one of the 65 million Americans who have high blood pressure, make sure to choose cold and flu medications that don't contain decongestants.