Now, let’s discuss the factors that lead to the development of high blood pressure. To understand why we develop high blood pressure it is important to understand the structures that are responsible for the movement of the blood through the body.

The blood vessels (arteries) have a lining on the internal walls which is made of a sheet of cells known as endothelium. This wall of endothelium acts as an interface between the blood vessel wall and the blood that flows through them. These endothelium cells are responsible for the control and regulation of blood pressure and they are extremely sensitive to pressure and the shearing force exerted by fast flowing blood. When exposed to continuous shearing force, these cells get damaged and this in turn causes endothelial dysfunction. This is often considered to be the primary cause of atherosclerosis (arterial blockage).

So needless to say, a healthy endothelium would equate to clearer blood vessels. Apart from this, it is equally necessary to remove oxidative stress, a condition in which unpaired oxygen electrons as well as other free radicals attack and damage normal cells, and reduce inflammation both of which simply add to the problem. Other aspects that contribute to the development of high blood pressure include vascular smooth muscle dysfunction and autoimmune factors.

The viscosity of the blood plays a vital role because the flow of blood is directly affected by how thick or thin it is at any given point in time. Now, there are several factors that will affect the viscosity of blood which can change constantly throughout the day. For instance, there is a change in the viscosity of blood when digested food is absorbed, sent through the liver and eventually distributed to the other organs of the body. Many doctors believe that thinning out the blood will reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes but using drugs to achieve this result is a solution that carries risk factors of its own. On the other hand natural remedies like garlic have proved to be equally potent in achieving similar results without the side effect.

Finally, the macro and micro nutrients that we derive from the food that we eat are also essential factors in this equation. Even though there are several drugs that are being used in blood pressure management, your diet still plays a large part in the battle against high blood pressure. The food items that we eat, the way in which they are cooked, grown and preserved all have an impact on the nutrients that we get from them. It is normal for doctors to ask hypertensive patients to reduce their salt intake. However, research has indicated that this recommendation is almost futile because only 1 out of 1000 patients who have been placed on salt restriction showed a measurable reduction in blood pressure. Instead a healthier alternative approach would be to increase potassium intake to offset the sodium being taken in through processed and preserved food items.

It is also vital to analyze the effect of essential nutrients on your blood pressure levels; primarily the minerals, enzymes and vitamins that are responsible for everyday metabolism. All vitamins including A, B, C, D, E and particularly D3 are important. Apart from these, Vitamin K2 is responsible for keeping calcium out of the smooth muscles layers of the blood vessels and other soft tissue where it should not be. This in turn will have a major impact on the incidents of arteriosclerosis –the hardening of the arteries- which makes them inflexible and is a major factor in pushing blood pressure upwards. Even though there are other factors as well, the above thoughts do generate the possibility of a preventative approach.

So in a nutshell to control your blood pressure you need to:

• Take care of your heart: If it functions like a pump, you can be sure that it’s going to need good maintenance like a pump as well. Many times heart failures can be squarely attributed to a reduction in the number of functional mitochondria. An enzyme known as Ubiquinone plays a part in ensuring the continuous and maximum operation of the mitochondria. Fortunately for us, there are several versions of the enzyme easily available in the nutritional markets. Also, you simply can’t ignore the fact that your heart is after all a muscle and just like exercise helps you to build you biceps and triceps, exercising your heart will strengthen it.
• Take care of the Pipes: To take care of the pipes it is essential to take care of its internal lining, which in case of blood vessels is the endothelium.
• Take Care of Blood Viscosity: The consistency of your blood is in no way static and depending on the direction in which the consistency changes and to what extent, you may have to face some serious effects on your blood pressure. For example, a few hours after eating, as the products of digestion are being absorbed, the viscosity goes up until the liver can remove the excess and store them away. If this condition is transient, the body can deal with it but if it becomes too regular difficulties may arise. The type of food you eat also contributes to the viscosity and a high fat, high carbohydrate diet is not helpful.

What is Blood Pressure? is a post from: Healthy Recipes

Your blood pressure is usually expressed as two numbers; of these the first number is systolic pressure and the second number is diastolic pressure. So a blood pressure reading of 120/80 indicates a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80. A person’s blood pressure is usually measured at the upper arm, checking the blood flow through the brachial artery that lies at the inside of the elbow. This is the major blood vessel of the upper arm responsible for carrying blood away from the heart. However, sometimes BP can also be measured at the ankle and with emerging technologies; we can now measure blood pressure at several points in the body.

What is high BP? Systolic/Diastolic pressure is a post from: Healthy Recipes

Arteries:Healthy arteries are elastic, flexible and strong; their inner endothelium lining is smooth to facilitate the smooth flow of blood to supply the vital organs and the tissues with the necessary nutrients and oxygen. However, consistent high blood pressure can cause several problems such as:

Aneurysm: This is a condition where weakened arterial walls when subjected to continuous high blood pressure develop a bulge and enlarge in certain areas. These bulges can potentially rupture causing life threatening internal bleeding. Even though any artery in the body can form aneurysm it is commonly seen in the aorta which is the body’s largest artery making it an extremely dangerous and often fatal condition.

Arteriosclerosis: A hardening of the arteries can be attributed to the damage caused to the cells of the arterial lining due to high blood pressure. This in turn results in an extremely harmful cascade of events that eventually result in the arterial walls becoming thick and stiff. Current findings show that the main cause is deposition of calcium into the muscle layer of the affected arteries.

These hardened arteries become susceptible to fat accumulation from the fats that enter the blood stream through the diet causing a condition called atherosclerosis. The reducing diameter of the blood vessels can prove detrimental to several organs of the body such as the kidneys, arms, legs, eyes, brain and the heart. These blockages can cause several other problems like heart attack, heart failure, chest pain, stroke, aneurysm and peripheral arterial disease.

The Heart: Since the heart is responsible for pumping the blood out any blockages in the arteries or thickening of the blood can cause undue pressure on it and so uncontrolled blood pressure can cause several heart related ailments such as:

Heart Failure: When your heart is subjected to high blood pressure continuously for a prolonged period of time the heart muscles weaken and cannot work efficiently, Eventually the muscle fatigue results in wear out and failure. Damage caused due to heart attacks further worsens the problem.

Coronary Artery Disease: As the name suggests, this disease affect the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscles. Coronary artery disease narrows the diameter of the arteries which in turn prevents the free and unrestricted flow of blood through the arteries leading to frequent chest pains. This condition can also be caused if the blood flow is blocked due to arteriosclerosis. When the blood flow to the heart muscles is restricted or has to pass through blockages you may not only experience chest pains but even go into a heart attack or experience irregular heart beat known as arrhythmias. People with a history of heart attack and high blood pressure are more likely to experience fatal heart attacks.

Enlarged Left Heart: The heart has to work harder in case of high blood pressure to pump the blood through the body, this in turn causes the left ventricle to stiffen and enlarge, the principle is quite simple when you lift weights your biceps enlarge, this is what happens with your heart as well when it’s overworked. But this enlargement prevents the ventricle from pumping blood to the body and increases the risk of heart failure, heart attack and sudden cardiac death.

The Brain

High Blood pressure can also cause several brain related problems because like the other organs in your body you brain also need nourishing blood supply for proper functioning. These problems include:

Stroke: You get a stroke when a part of your brain is starved of oxygen and nutrients causing the cells in that area of the brain to die. Uncontrolled and consistent high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain, weakening, narrowing or rupturing them leading to a stroke. Also high blood pressure can cause blood clots in the blood vessels to the brain greatly increasing the risk of a stroke. Aneurysm or the bulging and enlargement of a particular section of the artery is also possible in the blood vessels responsible for blood supply to the brain. This may result in rupturing of an important blood vessel causing fatal bleeding in the brain.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA): This condition is also known as a mini stroke and is caused due to a brief interruption in the blood flow to the brain. Common causes of this condition include: blood clot and atherosclerosis both of which are known to occur due to high blood pressure. A transient ischemic attack is often a prelude to a full blown stroke.

Dementia: Dementia is a disorder that results in impaired speaking, thinking, reasoning, vision, movement and memory. Even though several factors can lead to the condition, one of them is inadequate blood supply to the brain caused due to narrowed or blocked arteries. This condition may also be caused after a stroke. In either case, high blood pressure is often the primary causative factor. Even people who suffer from high blood pressure in middle age may suffer from dementia later in life.

Mild Cognitive Impairment: This condition can impact attention, reading, writing, language, critical thinking, memory and reaction time. It is often the transition stage in the impairment of memory and understanding that occurs due to old age or serious conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Like some of the other brain conditions mentioned above, this too can be caused due to blocked blood supply to the brain caused by high blood pressure.

The Kidneys: The kidneys are responsible for purging the toxins out of the body in the form of urine. They form the body’s filtration system. The blood that passes through the s is filtered and the waste and excess fluids are removed through this process; however, the efficacy of the filtration process largely depends on the heath of the blood vessels that go in and out of the kidneys. High blood pressure can damage these blood vessels leading to several kidney related complications. If a person suffers from diabetes matters can quickly get worse.

Kidney Artery Aneurysm: As defined earlier aneurysm is a bulge in the arterial wall which may lead to the rupturing of the blood vessel. When the aneurysm occurs in an artery that leads to the kidney, the condition is known as kidney artery aneurysm. One of the causes of aneurysm is atherosclerosis, a disorder that damages the arterial walls. When subjected to continuous high blood pressure the weakened arterial wall bulges. Aneurysms are prone to rupturing which can lead to fatal internal bleeding.

Kidney Failure: Among the most common causes if kidney failure is high blood pressure; it can damage the large arteries that lead into the kidneys and also the tiny blood vessels known as glomeruli. Damage to the blood vessels prevents the kidneys from filtering the toxins from your body. This in turn can lead to the accumulation of unwanted fluids and toxins in the body and you may have to opt in for a dialysis or a kidney transplantation procedure to get rid of them.

Kidney Scarring: Also known as glomerulosclerosis; this condition is caused due to the damaged glumeruli, blood vessels inside the kidney that are responsible for filtering the blood and removing the excess fluids and waste. This disorder often precedes a renal failure because it hampers the kidneys ability to filter waste.

The Eyes:Like all the other blood vessels in the body which can get damaged as a result of high blood pressure, arteries feeding the optical muscles and tissues may also be impacted by high blood pressure. Some of the eye related ailments that can be attributed to high blood pressure are:

Fluid accumulation under the retina: this condition is known as choroidopathy and it is characterized by the accumulation of fluids under the retina due to a leaky blood vessel. The disorder can lead to impaired or distorted vision.

Optical Nerve Damage: The blocked fluids may exert pressure on the optical nerve damaging it permanently. This will lead to the death of the cells which may in turn cause internal bleeding and even loss of vision.

Damage of the Optical Blood Vessel: High blood pressure can also damage the blood vessels that feed the retina, optical muscles and the other parts of the eyes. Depending on the extent of damage these blood vessels may leak or have blockages. Both conditions will lead to internal bleeding in the eye, swelling of the optic nerve, microaneurysm and loss of vision. The level of risk is augmented if you also suffer from diabetes.

Other Complications:
Bone Loss: High blood pressure can also cause the loss of calcium from the bones; this calcium is purged out of the body through the urine. Because high blood pressure increases the frequency of urination it may lead to an excessive loss of calcium from the body resulting in loss of bone density and osteoporosis. Women in their senior years are particularly susceptible to this problem.

Sleep Disorders: Hyper tension can also cause sleep apnea, a condition in which the throat muscles relax causing loud snoring. This condition is observed in 50% of the people who suffer from high blood pressure. Recent studies have pointed to the fact that hypertension may trigger sleep apnea. Sleep deprivation can also play havoc with your blood pressure level.

Sexual Issues: Although erectile dysfunction is a condition that is primarily attributed to aging, men with blood pressure at greater risk of developing the problem.

Dangers of HBP is a post from: Healthy Recipes

Acute Coronary Syndrome: This is a group of diseases that are caused due to cardiac muscle damage. Even though the disorder has symptoms like angina it is an advanced cardiac issue. The typical symptoms of acute coronary syndrome are shortness of breath, chest pains, sweating, palpitation and nausea.

Headaches: Frequent headaches are often a symptom of high blood pressure. Studies conducted over several decades have pointed to the presence of headaches in people who suffer from high blood pressure.

Atrial Fibrilation: Atrial fibrilation is a term used to define an irregular heart beat and it can be a potentially fatal condition if not treated in time. People who suffer from high blood pressure stand higher chanced of developing this condition because these individuals may have a larger than normal heart.

Coronary Artery Disease: People with high blood pressure also run the risk of developing coronary artery disease.

Other Ailments associated with HBP is a post from: Healthy Recipes

Myth 1: I don’t have a hyper personality so I will not suffer from high blood pressure

Truth: Anybody can suffer from high blood pressure regardless of his/ her personality type, age, gender, race etc. Children and seniors are as susceptible to it as adults.

Myth 2: People who don’t develop hypertension by the age of 55 will never suffer from it.

Truth: People at every stage of life can develop hypertension. So it is imperative to continue taking measures to prevent its onset.

Myth 3: Blood pressure and Cholesterol levels are equally proportional to each other

Truth: This is not always true, while some individuals may suffer from high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure at the same time but this is not a hard and fast rule.

Myth4: Normal blood pressure should be 120/80 mmHg

Truth: Not any more; currently, according to the guidelines set by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the normal blood pressure of a healthy person should be below the level of 120/80 because people with blood pressure levels as low as 115/75 are also known to suffer from heart attacks, cardiovascular disorders and strokes.

Myth 5: There are no side effects to the antihypertensive drugs available in the market today.

Truth: There have been some development in the manufacture of new drugs with fewer side effects; however, a drug with no side effects that can control blood pressure still eludes researchers. Some of the drugs do increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and may even cause other side effects like impotency and nausea. While some medications do not affect your chances of developing diabetes they may cause weight gain, some others may even increase the risk of heart disorders.

Myth 6:  A high systolic blood pressure does not have to be a cause for concern but high diastolic pressure should not be ignored.

Truth: Both systolic and diastolic pressures are equally important and a higher than normal reading of even one of them should not be left unchecked. Current research has revealed that it is of paramount importance to treat a higher than normal systolic pressure in older patients while treating a higher than normal diastolic pressure in younger patients is equally crucial.

Myth 7: A healthy diet does not help to control your blood pressure

Truth: Eating a balanced and healthy diet can not only lower your blood pressure but also keep other ailments like diabetes, cancer, stroke and heart attack at bay. A healthy diet is often more potent than drugs.

Myth 8: Developing high blood pressure is a part and parcel of getting old

Truth: There is nothing natural about high blood pressure and if you have lead a healthy lifestyle as a young person there should be no reason for you to develop high blood pressure later in life.

Myth 9: The hypertensive drugs may lead to erectile dysfunction and even impotency and there is nothing you can do about it

Truth: Even though some hypertensive medications do cause sexual dysfunctions, you can always talk to your doctor about it and get your medication changes. There is certainly no reason to live with it because there are several drugs that are being used to control high blood pressure.

Myths and truth about HBP is a post from: Healthy Recipes

Sometimes, people are so high strung about the results of their blood pressure check that the mere thought of stepping into the doctor’s office makes their blood pressure go through the roof. In this case, a blood pressure monitor can be very handy. With a home monitor you can save the time and money that you would have otherwise spent to meet the doctor; also, with these devices you can take your blood pressure anywhere and at any time.

However, most people find the task of choosing a home monitor harrowing with the numerous types of monitors available in the market.

The four common types of home blood pressure monitors are:

Manual arm-style monitors: These are monitors that are used by doctors usually in surgeries

Automatic arm-style monitor: The principle of this device is the same as the one used in the manual monitors but you will not have to inflate the cuff manually which makes the entire process significantly easy

Wrist-style monitor: In this type of monitor the cuff is slipped on the wrist and not on the arm but otherwise it is similar to the arm-style monitors.

Finger-style monitor: These are very small and can be easily slipped on to the finger although the device is strikingly similar to the arm-style monitors.

All of these different types of monitors are equally effective and handy; however the arm-style monitor is more accurate because it measures the pressure closer to the heart while the finger-style and the wrist-style monitors will give a lower than actual reading.

If the different types of monitors have stunned you, the number of brands will prove daunting. But most doctors recommend Omron monitors because they are all independently validated for accuracy. This means that your can be absolutely sure that your readings are accurate.

A survey reported in the British Medical Journal found that people who regularly monitored their blood pressure had greater chances of achieving their target blood pressure than people who relied on monitoring done at the doctor’s office.

Blood Pressure Monitoring Systems is a post from: Healthy Recipes

A. Several factors can lead to the development of high blood pressure such as:

• Excessive salt consumption
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Leading a stressful lifestyle
• Being insulin resistant
• Dietary habits that involve the consumption of food items with low content of potassium and magnesium
• Obesity
• Excessive drinking and smoking
• Aging

Q. Can high blood pressure be prevented?

A. Yes, making certain lifestyle changes can help you to prevent the onset of hypertension such as:

• Indulging in an outdoor activity that serves as a workout regimen, this can include walking, swimming, cycling, jogging or even dancing.
• Keeping your body mass index in the range of 18.5 to 24.9
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Reducing the intake of sodium to less than 2300 gms
• Putting a cap on alcohol consumption

Q. What should I do if I have high blood pressure?

A. If you are experiencing some or all of the symptoms associated with high blood pressure, you should promptly see a doctor. Depending on your condition, the physician will recommend a course of treatment that will involve a combination of two or more drugs. You may also be asked to make certain lifestyle changes. It is imperative to check your blood pressure regularly if you suffer from hypertension.

High Blood Pressure Q & A’s is a post from: Healthy Recipes