What does "Blood Pressure" Mean?
The average hearts beats almost 90,000 times per day. With each beat, the heart expels blood into the arteries – strong, muscular tubes that carry blood to all parts of body, branching into smaller and smaller tubes along the way.
When the heart beats, it generates force, which is transferred to the blood. As blood leaves the heart, it carries this force with it into the arteries. This force pushes on the walls of the arteries and the arteries push back, helping to propel the blood forward into the body.
This force also causes pressure within the arteries, which is called blood pressure. Blood pressure measurements consist of two numbers. The systolic pressure is measured while the heart is contracting, and is the larger of the two numbers.
The diastolic pressure is measured while the heart is relaxing, and is smaller than the systolic pressure. These two pressures are written together, like this: 120/80, and pronounced "120 over 80." Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure are important determinants of cardiovascular risk, so both are used in evaluating overall blood pressure status.
Why is Blood Pressure Important?
When measured as an average value over a long period of time (weeks to months) the blood pressure is an important value that directly affects how likely you are to
* have a heart attack
* suffer a stroke
* develop other problems, like kidney failure
While blood pressure by itself cannot say that you definitely will, or will not, suffer any of these ailments, a very large body of scientific research has shown that high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is a strong risk factor for developing a wide range of medical problems.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a rather unique condition because, unlike most diseases, it has no identifying symptoms. For this reason, blood pressure is commonly referred to as “the silent killer.” While having a cold will make your nose stuffy, and heart problems may make you weak or cause pain, high blood pressure can exist for years without any noticeable signs. People with high blood pressure typically continue their normal lives unaware that there is anything wrong.
High Blood Pressure is Often Found Incidentally
For most people, the first time they discover their high blood pressure is during a routine visit to their doctor’s office for an unrelated complaint or a regularly scheduled health maintenance appointment. Another common time for diagnosis is during a woman’s first prenatal visit during pregnancy.
Since most first time mothers tend to be young, regular visits to the doctor aren’t a priority until they become pregnant, leading to an uncharacteristically high rate of diagnosis in this patient population.
High Blood Pressure can Manifest as Other Problems
High blood pressure can cause symptoms via other organ systems. For example, high blood pressure damages blood vessels, and can lead to dangerous complications such as heart attack and stroke. This damage may, in turn, cause symptoms that are serious enough that people make a visit to a doctor to have them checked out. When high blood pressure manifests this way it can present as
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* Low exercise tolerance
* Nausea
* Loss of consciousness
* Episodes of confusion
* Tightness, pressure, or pain in the chest or arms
Everyone Should Have their Blood Pressure Checked
Because high blood pressure can exist silently for many years, it is important that everyone have their blood pressure checked on a regular basis. Anyone can develop high blood pressure, even children, and the disease can cause serious problems if not treated appropriately.
If you have never had your blood pressure checked, or can’t remember what your blood pressure is, then you should call and make an appointment to see your doctor. Even those without a dedicated primary care doctor can have their blood pressure checked inexpensively at a walk in clinic.
Blood Pressure Treatment
All high blood pressure should be treated. What the treatment actually consists of, and what elements are required to complete it, varies depending on the class and stage to which the high blood pressure belongs.
Basic Treatment Options
While there are many variations of high blood pressure treatment available, all treatments essentially fall into one of three categories
* Medications (e.g. Beta Blockers)
* Lifestyle Changes (e.g. Weight Loss)
* Other Interventions
Because there is a wide possible array of medication and lifestyle change combinations, the total number of different treatments is vast, but still basically a variation of the same general theme. There are very few genuine treatments that comprise the “other intervention” category
The Decision to Treat
All high blood pressure should be treated. However, don’t assume that because you’re not taking a pill that you aren’t receiving treatment. In certain stages of high blood pressure, it is appropriate to attempt control via lifestyle changes alone. So, if your doctor tells you to exercise more and lose weight, you’re being treated.
While most cases of high blood pressure arise from an unknown set of factors, in some cases a definite cause is clearly identified. In these cases, treatment will have two different goals. First, to control the high blood pressure. Second, to relieve, if possible, the underlying cause. Someone with high blood pressure because of an underlying hormone disorder, for example, would likely be controlled on blood pressure medications but would also be treated in an attempt to resolve the hormone imbalance at the root of the problem.
The treatment of high blood pressure has clearly defined goals. These goals come from decades of research, and are endorsed by respected groups such as the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control. The guidelines are reviewed by a board consisting of physicians and researchers from many different medical specialties. In general, treatment of high blood pressure is aimed at decreasing the risk of associated complications such as heart attack. Therefore, treatment focuses on reducing blood pressure to a level that has been proven to provide significant risk reduction for these complications.
