High blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, is a serious medical condition. Nearly 75 million American have high blood pressure with African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics being at highest risk, according to the American Heart Association. Blood pressure is the force at which the blood moves through the blood vessels; when the pressure is too high, disease conditions can develop. An ideal blood pressure is considered to be a systolic reading of 120, a measurement of blood pressure as the heart contracts, and a diastolic reading of 80, the blood pressure as the heart relaxes. This reading would be expressed as 120/80.
High Readings
Blood pressure is considered high when readings are more than 100 for diastolic pressure and more than 180 for the systolic pressure, according to the American Heart Association. These levels can lead to serious complications and a medical professional should be consulted.
The University of Maryland states that high blood pressure can cause various heart conditions such as hypertensive heart disease, the leading cause of death from high blood pressure. Coronary heart disease occurs when the walls of the blood vessels thicken because of continued high blood pressure. Coronary heart disease, also known as ischemic heart disease or CAD, is the end result of unresolved high blood pressure. Continued high blood pressure also leads to heart failure, as the overworked heart enlarges and eventually fails. Cardiac arrythmias can develop. These are different types of irregular heart beats that include atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions or tachycardia.
Complications from high blood pressure include stress on the heart, eyes, kidneys and other organs, according to the University of Maryland. Strokes are a leading complication of high blood pressure, with nearly 75 percent of all strokes attributed to this cause. Other risk factors increase the risk of high blood pressure including smoking, alcohol consumptions, age, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease and smoking. Genetics can also play a part.
Low Blood Pressure
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), low blood pressure , also known as hypertension, can be a cause for medical concern. Blood pressure numbers below 85/55 are considered low. Warning signs that indicate dangerous levels include: dizziness, dehydration or excessive thirst, blurry vision, nausea, cold skin, depression and shallow breathing. Low blood pressure can be caused by bed rest, medications, heart problems such as heart attacks or valve problems, hormone problems, allergic reactions, and vitamin B12 deficiency-caused anemia. The AHA reports that low blood pressure can be life-threatening because it leads to oxygen deprivation of the brain.
Pre-hypertension
Pre-hypertension is a medical condition diagnosed when blood pressure ranges between 120/80 and 139/89. These levels indicate a possibility of developing high blood pressure in the future. The National Institutes of Health advises hypertensive individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles to avoid developing high blood pressure. Healthy habits include regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet.
