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."
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."