Preventing and Treating Hypertension By Brenda Williams At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Medical dictionaries define blood pressure as a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. It is determined by the force at which blood is being pumped, the amount of blood being pumped and the size and flexibility of the arteries. This measurement is written as an improper fraction with the top number larger than the bottom number. The top number refers to the systolic pressure which is the pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The bottom number called diastolic refers to the measurement when the heart is at rest. A normal reading is considered to be 120/70.

When the top number registers from 120 to 139 and the bottom number is between 80 and 89, the person is said to have pre-hypertension. When the upper number is 140 to 159 and the lower number is 90 to 99, a person has mild hypertension. If the top number is or exceeds 160 and the bottom number is 100 or over, the individual has severe hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure. Hypertension is a serious disorder as it heightens the risk of other health problems such as heart attack, diseases of the blood vessels, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. However, hypertension has no symptoms so most people do not know they have it.

Those people who schedule an annual physical will have their blood pressure checked as part of the procedure. In fact, any time a patient visits a medical facility; their blood pressure will probably be screened. Adults who already know they have hypertension should be certain to have their blood pressure measured at least once a year. There are various medications available for pre-hypertension and hypertension. However, lifestyle changes can also keep blood pressure in check.

Patients with hypertension need to be sure to have an exercise program and follow it consistently. Exercise increases the production of nitric oxide in our bodies and nitric oxide assists in keeping blood vessels open which helps normalize blood pressure. Some substances, such as salt, are known to raise blood pressure. Anyone diagnosed with hypertension needs to carefully monitor their sodium intake. They should also be sure to drink more water. High water consumption increases urination, which is nature's way of releasing salts and excess fluids from our bodies.

It stands to reason that the more a person weighs, the more difficult it is for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body. So losing extra pounds is highly beneficial in preventing and even curing hypertension. But anyone deciding to diet should be sure to include the foods that protect against hypertension such as those rich in fiber, potassium, calcium and magnesium. That means eating oranges, bananas, raisins, baked potatoes baked in the skin, baked beans, and whole grains such as brown rice, bran cereal and whole grain breads.

It is also important to reduce stress. There are many ways of doing this and their success varies with the individual. However, many people have found yoga, tai chi and biofeedback to be helpful.

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