[Ian]

The American Heart Association estimates that one of three Americans have have hypertension. And yet many of us don’t know what it is, why it’s dangerous, and what the treatment options are.

What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a fancy medical word for high blood pressure.

Your blood carries nutrients and oxygen to your body, and picks up waste like carbon dioxide. The heart pumps the blood through “pipes” - blood vessels called arteries- and the blood returns to the heart through veins.

Blood pressure is the “push” of blood against the walls of the arteries. It is a good thing to have blood pressure - if blood pressure is zero, it means there’s no blood moving through the arteries! But like the water pipes in a house, if the blood is being pushed too hard against the walls of the vessels, they might be damaged. Extra pressure can also contribute to creating blood clots that block needed blood supply to the brain.

Hypertension can lead to dangerous conditions including heart failure (when the heart has to work too hard just to get the blood moving around the body), stroke (interference with the blood flow in the brain), and kidney disease, to name a few.

How Do I know If I’m At Risk?

While having a family history of hypertension may increase your risk for hypertension, not all people with hypertension have family members with it. Hypertension is generally “asymptomatic” - most people don’t have symptoms as they develop it - so checking your blood pressure should be a part of regular healthcare.

How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?

When your blood pressure is taken at a health clinic or doctor’s office, the result is a mysterious number like this:

120 / 80

The first/top number is called the “systolic” (sis-tall-ick) blood pressure; the second/bottom, the diastolic (dye-as-tall-ick) pressure. The American Heart association recommends that the top number in adults should be no higher than 120 and the bottom no higher than 80 (children have different ranges of healthy blood pressure for different age groups - ask your pediatrician if you’re concerned). If your systolic pressure is between 140 to 159 and/or your diastolic pressure is between 90 and 99, that’s considered mild hypertension. Moderate to severe hypertension includes systolic pressures over 160 and/or diastolic over 100.

What Are My Treatment Options?

Treatment depends on the severity of the high blood pressure. Keep in mind that a very stressful day can increase your blood pressure readings, as (for some people) can a trip to your doctor’s office. So if your blood pressure reading is on the border between healthy and hypertensive, you may need to make a return visit.

If you have a pre-hypertensive blood pressure after a repeat check, your doctor or nurse practitioner may recommend a trial of lifestyle changes that can help lower blood pressure including:

• -exercise
  
  -a lower-salt diet
  
  -increased intake of potassium
  
  -weight loss
  
  -moderation of alcohol consumption
  
  -stress reduction

However, if you have mild to severe hypertension (Stage 1 or 2), or if you have pre-hypertension in combination with conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes, your health care provider may prescribe medications.

There are many different hypertension medications. They don’t all work the same way, and different ones work differently for different people, so your provider will probably have you check in to make sure the medication first prescribed is working for you. Sometimes two medications can compliment each other, so your healthcare provider may prescribe two kinds.

Once medication has been prescribed sit down with your health care provider or pharmacist and a list of all the medications you take (including over the counter medications) to make sure that there are no harmful interactions between them and tyour blood pressure medicines. In addition, keep in mind that most blood pressure medications have side effects; ask your healthcare provider to write down likely side effects for you, noting side effects and symptoms that indicate that you should come in to have your dose changed.

Most importantly, medication is not enough! Make sure to modify your lifestyle to help the medications do a good job.

Most importantly, medication is not enough! Make sure to modify your lifestyle to help the medications do a good job. “High Blood Pressure” Nidus Information Services, 2004

“Percentage of adults aged ≥20 who were ever told they had high blood pressure” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, Center for Disease Control, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, volume 51, issue 21, 2002

“Screening for high blood pressure: recommendations and rationale,”U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, American Family Physician Volume 68, issue 10, p. 2019-22

“The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure,” The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institiute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health, Volume 3, no. 5233, 2003

Article provided by Shoppe.MD, a resource for weight loss medications and health articles.

[Cyn]

Unfortunately both of my parents and my brother suffers high blood pressure. My dad was taken to the emergency room 3 weeks ago because his bp was 214/100!! He has already suffered 2 heart attacks and a stroke which left him blind. My mother is just as bad--she has had several blocked arteries and other health issues. Last week at the doctor her bp was 245/104!! :eek: Hopefully the new meds they have now will bring it down and make it regular without spiking up and down. When Mothers bp drops she becomes very dizzy and cant function and because of Dads confditon he isnt much help to her when she is like this. All of the things that are happening to my parents is a big eye opener to me--I really want to be healthy and live a long life.

[Ian]

Hey Cyn, that's unbelievable blood pressure! I can't imagine what that must
feel like. I'm sorry that they are and have been going through these things,
and that you have to be part of that experience, BUT I'm glad it has helped
you gain a better perspective and drive to improve your health.

How are your mom and dad doing this week?

[Cyn]

Hey Ian thanks for asking about my parents. I think it is a day to day thing with them--they have their good days and then the not so good days! Mom keeps having dizzy spells--the doctor said this would continue until the pills had her bp regular but I am not sure she can wait--she cant function with these spells and I think she may end up stopping the meds if she doesnt get some results soon. Dad seems to be pretty good lately

[zippysgoddess]

All my relatives on my father's side of the family suffer from it, and I am sure I will soon as well.

Whenever I am stressed or in pain, mine already pops high, and even when I am not, it still stays right at the high point, just before you would need meds for it. I have already cut my amounts of salt and caffeine.

Sorry to hear about your parent's cyn, I hope they are doing well.

[Cyn]

Luckily even at my heavest I have never shown signs of high blood pressure. I am not going to wait though--I am going to do something about my health now before all those problems sneak up on me!

[zippysgoddess]

That is what I figured as well, as soon as mine started going high, I figured it was time to make some changes. I may still end up with it but I can at least try to stave it off as long as possible.

I like salt so I started buying SaltSense and use it for everything, and cut down on my coffee and cigs.

[NeedtoLose]

I heard if you have either of those conditions you should not take Phen. My mom has high blood pressure so her doc will not prescribe Phen.