Why blood pressure?
As blood circulates through the body, it exerts varying degrees of force on artery walls; doctors refer to this as blood pressure. Over 60 million North Americans have blood pressure that is too high, or hypertension. in Its early stages, high blood pressure is symptom less, so many people don’t realize they have a potentially life-threatening disease. If the condition goes unchecked, high blood pressure damages the heart and blood vessels and can lead to a stroke, heart attack, and other serious consequences.
In about 5 percent of cases, there’s an underlying cause for high blood pressure; for example, a narrowed kidney artery, pregnancy, an adrenal gland disorder, or a drug side effect. Most often there is no identifiable cause; this is referred to as primary, or essential, hypertension.
Blood pressure rises when the arterioles, the body’s smallest arteries, narrow or constrict, requiring the heart to beat more forcefully in order to pump blood through them. Increased blood volume, often due to the body’s tendency to retain excessive salt and fluids, raises blood pressure; so do high levels of adrenaline and other hormones that constrict blood vessels.
Monitor underlying factors. With age, blood pressure rises somewhat, but no one fully understands precisely what leads to hypertension, although a combination of factors seems to be involved, Because it tends to run in families, an inherited susceptibility is suspected. Diabetes, obesity, and certain other disorders increase risk. Stress prompts a surge in adrenal hormones and a temporary rise in blood pressure; some researchers believe that constant stress may play a role in developing hypertension. Other contributors include smoking, excessive alcohol, and a sedentary lifestyle.
There is little doubt that keeping blood pressure at normal levels makes a difference in the quality and length of life. Cardiovascular dis’ ease death rates, which had been steadily declining since rhe 1960s, thanks largely to life. style changes and improvements in hypertension treatment, are now on the increase again.
