Because of the silent and insidious way it works in the background i.e. no symptoms it is referred to as the Silent Killer. If left uncontrolled or untreated then High Blood Pressure can cause a variety of illnesses all of which could kill if left to their own devices.
In the United States of America alone their estimate to be 50 million sufferers of High Blood Pressure. It would appear in certain cases but there are greater percentage of sufferers of high blood pressure amongst the black community as opposed to those in the white or Hispanic community in the USA
Also, the consequences of high blood pressure are worse for blacks.High blood pressure occurs more often in older people-in about three fourths of women and almost two thirds of men aged 75 or older, compared with only about one fourth of people aged 20 to 74.
For those suffering with clinical obesity the incidences of high blood pressure rise by 200%.
It is a staggering figure that possibly only two thirds of the potential high blood pressure sufferers in the US have been diagnosed. Of this figure about three quarters are receiving medical treatment and of this first three quarters only 50% are receiving adequate treatment.
Two terms are used when calculating high blood pressure, the systolic which is the first and greater of the two figures and refers to the highest pressure of the Arteries. The diastolic figure is the second figure calculated and represents the pressure in the hall product to the process of contraction again.
Blood pressure is written as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure-for example, 120/80 mm Hg (millimetres of mercury). This reading is referred to as "120 over 80."High blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure at rest that averages 140 mm Hg or more, a diastolic pressure at rest that averages 90 mm Hg or more, or both.
However, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risks-even within the normal blood pressure range-so these limits are somewhat arbitrary. The limits were established because people with blood pressure above these levels are at increasing risk of complications.
In most people with high blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic pressures are high. The exception is older people who commonly have high systolic pressure (140 mm Hg or more) with normal or low diastolic pressure (less than 90 mm Hg).
This disorder is called isolated systolic hypertension. Blood pressure that is more than 180/110 mm Hg and does not produce any symptoms is " a hypertensive urgency.
Where the blood pressure is particularly severe and in excess of 210/120 mm Hg then the condition is deemed to be known as malignant hypertension. This has only been found to occur in about one half of one percent of all sufferers.
For some apparent reason that is not necessarily had an adequate medical explanation the incidences of malignant hypertension are increased within the black community and those within the lowest socioeconomic groups. This type of hypertension is unlike hypertensive urgency in that it produces a variety of severe symptoms. These can be fatal within a period of six months if left untreated.
Because it usually does not cause symptoms for many years-until a vital organ is damaged-it has been called "the silent killer." If left uncontrolled or untreated then High Blood Pressure can cause a variety of illnesses all of which could kill if left to their own devices. It has been estimated that in the USA there are potentially 50 million sufferers of Hypertension / High Blood Pressure.
In the USA initial investigations would seem to highlight that within the black community 32% off the community how to high blood pressure as opposed to 23% within the White and Hispanic communities. For blacks it would also appear the adverse consequences of high blood pressure were worse.
It would appear that the risks and incidences of high blood pressure increase proportionately with age with over three quarters of women and 4/6 of men over the age of 75 being classified as sufferers. For those suffering with clinical obesity the incidences of high blood pressure rise by 200%.
It is a staggering figure that possibly only two thirds of the potential high blood pressure sufferers in the US have been diagnosed. Of this figure about three quarters are receiving medical treatment and of this first three quarters only 50% are receiving adequate treatment.
When blood pressure is checked, two values are recorded. The higher value reflects the highest pressure in the arteries, which is reached when the heart contracts (during systole).The lower value reflects the lowest pressure in the arteries, which is reached just before the heart begins to contract again (during diastole).
Blood pressure figures are written as two numbers, the first over the second (120 over 80) and is calculated in millimetres of mercury which is the traditional form of measurement. In the early days it was felt that high blood pressure started when the diastolic pressure walls at a minimum average over 140 mm Hg all the diastolic figure was greater than 90 mm Hg.
However, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risks-even within the normal blood pressure range-so these limits are somewhat arbitrary. The change in the approach to these limits has occurred through increased research into hypertension highlighting additional unforeseen complications.
Research has shown that it is not unusual for raised figures in both systolic and diastolic pressures for sufferers of high blood pressure. It has been found that where High Blood Pressure has been brought about through increased age that it is not unusual to see a normal diastolic pressure matched with a raised systolic figure.
This condition has been referred to as "isolated systolic hypertension".Blood pressure that is more than 180/110 mm Hg and does not produce any symptoms is " a hypertensive urgency.
Malignant hypertension, a particularly severe form of high blood pressure, is where thee Blood pressure is at least 210/120 mm Hg. This has only been found to occur in about one half of one percent of all sufferers.
Again the incidences of malignant hypertension is greater within the black community and amongst those people from the socioeconomic groups. Unlike hypertensive urgency, malignant hypertension may produce a variety of severe symptoms. These can be fatal within a period of six months if left untreated.
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Stephen Morgan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Blood Pressure, Video and Blood Pressure. Scott James writes regularly on High Blood Pressure issues and more information on the above can be found at ,. Stephen Morgan's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Scott James has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Health and Social Issues. Scott James writes regularly on High Blood Pressure issues and more information on the above can be found at ,. Scott James's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.