High blood pressure is called hypertension and, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, can lead to serious health problems like kidney failure, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke. The Food and Drug Administration states 65 million adults in the United States have hypertension. Hypertension is commonly caused by poor lifestyle choices. Lifestyle factors that increase the risk for hypertension include lack of physical activity, poor diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol and other environmental factors.
Symptoms
Medline Plus states hypertension usually has no symptoms. The FDA says hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because many people do not check blood pressure regularly. Physiologically, blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Significance
Blood pressure is highest when the heart beats and is pumping the blood; this is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest between beats, blood pressure falls, and this is called the diastolic pressure. These two numbers make up the blood pressure reading. Blood pressure is commonly written with systolic over the diastolic number. Generally speaking, a reading of 120/80 and lower is normal. People with hypertension have readings above the normal range. Medline Plus states 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure. Blood pressure is constantly changing, so to get a true measure, three separate readings need to be taken at three separate times, with all being high to be considered high blood pressure.
Causes
Generally speaking, high blood pressure is a lifestyle disease. Chances of having high blood pressure increase with poor choices in diet and exercise. The FDA states anyone can have high blood pressure, and some people are more likely to have high blood pressure, including: African-Americans, people over 55 and those with a family history of high blood pressure.
Prevention/Solution
To prevent high blood pressure, a person must engage in healthy lifestyle choices like eating fruits and vegetables, limiting consumption of foods high in salt, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weigh and exercising often. The FDA states that for those with hypertension, a medication may be prescribed to control blood pressure. Medications control the numbers, but the cause of the problem is still a lack of healthy lifestyle choices. Therefore a change in diet and exercise habits should accompany any high blood pressure treatment if the patient is healthy enough for exercise. Research has shown natural approaches may also help with hypertension. In the 2007 "Journal of Human Hypertension," it was reported patents undergoing upper cervical chiropractic care had a significant drop in blood pressure equivalent to using two medications. The patients received specific upper cervical chiropractic adjustments to the atlas vertebra. The atlas is the first bone in the neck and has neurological relationships with brain centers responsible for regulating blood pressure. The study reported no side effects, and while more research is needed, it has revealed an additional area of study regarding natural hypertension treatment.
Expert Insight
The human body has an tremendous ability to adapt to the environment. Poor lifestyle choices will require the body to adapt by increasing blood pressure. If this is left uncorrected for a long period of time, then disease will develop. It is important to make healthy lifestyle choices for overall health, and it is especially important in people with high blood pressure.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Is High Blood Pressure?
- Food and Drug Administration: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Medline Plus: High Blood Pressure
- Journal of Human Hypertension: Atlas vertebra Realignment and Achievement of Arterial Pressure Goal in Hypertensive Patients: A Pilot Study.
