Transitory or sustained elevation of systematic arterial blood pressure to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequences-this is how Medilexicon's medical dictionary defines hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension is a condition also referred to as silent killer because it often shows no symptoms when it strikes. Hence, having a blood pressure to monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis is important.
Hypertensive heart disease is among the top 10 leading causes of death around the globe. This is according to the statistics of the World Health Organization. In US alone, about 7.4 million Americans are affected by this condition which is reported by the American Heart Association. The exact causes of hypertension on the other hand are usually unknown. One factor that may affect the development of this heart disease is salt intake. Base on studies, high incidence of hypertension occurs in environments where people consume large amount of salt, while incidence of said condition is observed low on cultures with low salt intake. Hypertension is also hereditary, which means that it runs in the family. Smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, high level of alcohol consumption, stress, aging, and insufficient calcium, potassium, and magnesium consumption are also factors associated with high blood pressure.
Diagnosis of this heart disease is often during the hypertensive crisis stage. As abovementioned, hypertension affects people without further notice. There are no observable symptoms until the critical stage. During this time, severe headaches, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and severe anxiety are observed on the patient. Because of the late diagnosis of the condition, many have already suffered complications such as coronary arteries, stroke, kidney disease, memory loss, fluid in the lungs, etc. Thus, in order to diagnose this condition before it strikes, regular monitoring of blood pressure with the use of blood pressure monitors is a necessary.
The devices used in measuring ones blood pressure are called blood pressure monitors or sphygmomanometers. There are two types of these monitors. First is the manometric sphygmomanometer. It is an old-fashioned blood pressure monitor that consists of a fabric cuff wrapped around the arm and is lightly inflated to measure the blood pressure. To listen to thumping sounds and read blood pressure from the gauge attached to the cuff, the stethoscope is used. The second type is the digital blood pressure monitor. It has small digital screens that use digital readouts and the systolic and diastolic pressures are generated electronically, hence stethoscopes are no longer used.
Readings of digital monitors are in written in fraction form. The number on top is called the systolic pressure which measures pressure inside blood vessels at the moment your heart beats. On the other hand, the bottom which is also the diastolic pressure is the pressure in the blood vessels between heartbeats when the heart is resting. Normal blood pressure is at 120/80, 139/89 is considered as prehypertension and blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.
Early diagnosis of hypertension can save ones life. This heart condition can be fatal if not prevented. Thus, keeping an eye on your blood pressure with the help of blood pressure monitors is a must.
Hypertensive heart disease is among the top 10 leading causes of death around the globe. This is according to the statistics of the World Health Organization. In US alone, about 7.4 million Americans are affected by this condition which is reported by the American Heart Association. The exact causes of hypertension on the other hand are usually unknown. One factor that may affect the development of this heart disease is salt intake. Base on studies, high incidence of hypertension occurs in environments where people consume large amount of salt, while incidence of said condition is observed low on cultures with low salt intake. Hypertension is also hereditary, which means that it runs in the family. Smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, high level of alcohol consumption, stress, aging, and insufficient calcium, potassium, and magnesium consumption are also factors associated with high blood pressure.
Diagnosis of this heart disease is often during the hypertensive crisis stage. As abovementioned, hypertension affects people without further notice. There are no observable symptoms until the critical stage. During this time, severe headaches, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and severe anxiety are observed on the patient. Because of the late diagnosis of the condition, many have already suffered complications such as coronary arteries, stroke, kidney disease, memory loss, fluid in the lungs, etc. Thus, in order to diagnose this condition before it strikes, regular monitoring of blood pressure with the use of blood pressure monitors is a necessary.
The devices used in measuring ones blood pressure are called blood pressure monitors or sphygmomanometers. There are two types of these monitors. First is the manometric sphygmomanometer. It is an old-fashioned blood pressure monitor that consists of a fabric cuff wrapped around the arm and is lightly inflated to measure the blood pressure. To listen to thumping sounds and read blood pressure from the gauge attached to the cuff, the stethoscope is used. The second type is the digital blood pressure monitor. It has small digital screens that use digital readouts and the systolic and diastolic pressures are generated electronically, hence stethoscopes are no longer used.
Readings of digital monitors are in written in fraction form. The number on top is called the systolic pressure which measures pressure inside blood vessels at the moment your heart beats. On the other hand, the bottom which is also the diastolic pressure is the pressure in the blood vessels between heartbeats when the heart is resting. Normal blood pressure is at 120/80, 139/89 is considered as prehypertension and blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.
Early diagnosis of hypertension can save ones life. This heart condition can be fatal if not prevented. Thus, keeping an eye on your blood pressure with the help of blood pressure monitors is a must.
About the Author:
Jocelyn Carmichael is a medical doctor from Milan, Italy. As a doctor, she always keeps in handy a Beurer BM 20 Oberarm-Blutdruckmessgeraet (blood pressure monitor) to be able to monitor the blood pressure of her patients.