Heart

It is estimated that more than 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, and most of them are unaware that they have it. Almost 75 percent of people with high blood pressure do not control their blood pressure to below the “danger zone” of 140/90 mm Hg. But if your doctor tells you your blood […]

Q: Can blood pressure be too low? A: Up to a certain point, the lower the blood pressure, the better. But an abnormally low blood pressure, called hypotension can contribute to symptoms including fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. You should report any such symptoms to your doctor. Q: If I do not feel any symptoms, is there still a

High blood pressure, or hypertension, refers to increased pressure or tension that the circulating blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels Although blood inside the veins is under some pressure, the term hypertension is usually used to mean increased pressure in arteries. Blood pressure is determined by the heart rate, blood volume, how vigorously heart pumps, and resistance in blood

Here are definitions of medical terms related to high blood pressure. ACE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme; an enzyme that causes inactive angiotensin I to be converted to active angiotensin II; also known as kinase II ACEI or ACE inhibitors: Other terms for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors Acute: brief; short term Adrenal gland: A gland that is at the upper end of each

Here are reliable sources that can provide more information on high blood pressure American Heart Association  http://www.americanheart.org/ National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Information Center  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ For help with smoking cessation: American Cancer Society  http://www.cancer.org/ American Lung Association  http://www.lungusa.org

When you have your blood pressure taken, your health care provider is measuring the pressure, or tension, that blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels as it travels around the body. In a healthy person, this pressure is just enough for the blood to reach all the cells of the body, but not

The body controls blood pressure in several ways. What factors affect blood pressure? Keeping the blood pressure normal Pulse pressure What Factors Affect Blood Pressure? Blood pumped through blood vessels is always under pressure, much like water that is pumped through a garden hose. This pressure is highest in the arteries closest to the heart

High blood pressure is a dangerous condition, and it should be treated appropriately. Over a period of time, once damage to the heart or other organs has begun, it is often irreversible. Uncontrolled high blood pressure damages the heart and other organs, accelerates hardening of the arteries and build-up of cholesterol-laden plaques on arterial walls, and

In 90 to 95 percent of people with high blood pressure, doctors do not know what causes it. High blood pressure with an unknown cause is called essential, or primary, hypertension. Sometimes, an underlying disease or other condition is found to be the cause of the high blood pressure. This type, called secondary hypertension, only

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A typical normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, or “120 over 80.” The first number represents the pressure when the heart contracts and is called the systolic blood pressure. The second number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes and is called the diastolic

Most people with high blood pressure do not experience any symptoms, which is why regular blood pressure checks are so important. High blood pressure can only be diagnosed with repeated blood pressure measurements. The best way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure measured by a health professional.

If your blood pressure readings suggest that you have high blood pressure, your doctor will conduct a thorough evaluation of your health status. In order to determine the best course of treatment for you, your doctor will look for answers to the following questions: Is there an identifiable cause of the hypertension? Are other risk