Blood Pressure Symptoms

Blood Pressure Symptoms

In a similar manner to which water is pushed through a garden hosepipe, pressure is required to pump blood around your body. The narrower your veins are the higher the pressure is required to enable the blood to pump around your body. When a doctor or medical physician takes your blood pressure it is ordinarily provided as two readings. The first reading or number is named systolic pressure reading and is quantified as the maximum pressure within your system. The bottom number is called the diastolic pressure reading which measures the lowest pressure in the system.

Whilst many of us think that individuals who suffer with high blood pressure carry with them obvious symptoms the truth is they do not show any symptoms at all. The condition can lead to headaches and in some cases nosebleeds however this is rare and ordinarily no symptoms are noted. The method to ascertain whether or not you're suffering with high blood pressure is to have it checked out by your doctor or medical physician.

A natural reaction if we are in pain or frightened by something is for the pressure of our blood to rise. However, if it remains at a consistently high level it places strain upon your heart. The majority of doctors and medical practitioners will require you to return on several occasions to be tested before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Should your readings be consistently higher than 140/90 you will be classed as hypersensitive and various measures will be required to reduce the levels. Should your pressure readings be only slightly elevated your medical practitioner will probably advise you to adjust your lifestyle through losing any excess weight and giving up smoking as well as at the same time ensuring that you do not add salt to your foods and to undertake regular exercise.

Blood Pressure medication & Side effects

Blood Pressure medication & Side effects

The medicines given to a patient of High Blood Pressure are not given over the counter. Prior to the start of the medication, the doctor and a patient hold a discussion. The actual count of the blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic is recorded to ascertain the type of Medication. The doctor also ascertains that the medicine prescribed is free from side effects for the patient’s stage of Hypertension. Despite these steps, the patient has to be prepared for other side effects that might occur in some cases.

The most common type of High Blood Pressure Medicines such as the Diuretic Drugs can cause skin rashes in some patients. Another Medication Side Effect is the passing of more urine, as the Hypertension Drugs are given to rid the body of excess salts. The Beta Blockers that are given to patients, who are in Stage II of the Blood Pressure Scale, are administered drugs like Timolol and Solalol. This High Blood Pressure Medication has side effects that can slow down the heart and open the blood vessels. These cause tiredness, sleeping problems and even cooling of hands and feet.

The CCB Drugs like Lacidipine and Felodipine have other side effects. Patients taking these High Blood Pressure Medications complain of swollen ankles, bleeding gums, the passing of urine at night and even constipation. For patients who have other complications along with their blood pressure problem, the medicines are given in combination with drugs related to their specific problems. These patients are usually on Alpha Blockers like Trandolapril and Perindopril.

High blood pressure information

High blood pressure information

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is the result of two forces: from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow. Blood pressure is measured by putting a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of blood. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Blood pressure is traditionally measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure is generally felt to be abnormally high at a level of 140/90, and some sort of definitive therapy and follow-up should be started at this level. High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms.

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood does not flow regularly like water from a tap:-When the heart contracts (systole), the blood is propelled into the main arteries that act as a pressurised reservoir.

Pressure in a hose can be regulated either by controlling the rate at which fluid passes through it or by widening it. Pressure inside your arteries can cause the muscles that line the walls of the arteries to thicken. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still.

Alternative Medicine for High Blood Pressure

There is a lot of interest in alternative treatments for high blood pressure nowadays. This is understandable, since most regular medicines for high blood pressure have undesirable side effects. These side effects often include sleepiness, impaired judgment (sometimes leading to serious accidents), nausea and allergic reactions. Most alternative medicines for high blood pressure offer relief from the problem without these unwanted effects. Most of us will not experience symptoms that suggest we have high blood pressure. Properly known as hypertension, the problem manifests itself quite unnoticed at first. Stress can lead to hypertension, but stress, anxiety and tension are not the same as high blood pressure. A doctor will diagnose hypertension when the patient's systolic blood pressure crosses 240 mmHg. Simultaneously, diastolic blood pressure may go above 120 mmHg. If both these finding occur at the same time, there is no room for doubt.

Patients with high blood pressure must modify their lifestyles. Those who are overweight need to start exercising regularly. They must also eliminate excess salt from their diets and include plenty of fruit, nuts and green vegetables. If they live stressful lives, they need to eliminate the stress-inducing factors. Doing this can sometimes include moving out of an overly noisy neighborhood and switching to a less demanding job. Additionally, the patient will probably have to take certain antihypertensive medication. It is possible to live a full and functional life with high blood pressure without using pharmacological medicines. For instance, many patients have found considerable relief by using hawthorn. Studies have shown that a majority of patients with type 2 diabetes using hawthorn for around 16 weeks displayed a reduction in their mean diastolic blood pressure.

Folic acid intake is also useful because this element from the vitamin B group lowers elevated homocysteine levels. Many doctors also recommend adopting a diet rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. In addition, patients with high blood pressure experience significant relief by practicing yoga, biofeedback and other non-medical stress-reducing therapies. Ayurveda, an ancient system of herbal medicine from India, has many alternative treatments for high blood pressure, and so does traditional Chinese herbal medication.

Self-treatment of high blood pressure with alternative medicine is popular but can be dangerous if done ignorantly. Alternative medicines and herbal medication are not always safe to use by amateurs. To illustrate this point - there are certain herbal compounds that patients of high blood pressure must avoid strictly. These include licorice, Ephedra, Asian Ginseng and essential oil of Rosemary.