From the Editor

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is generally a symptom-less condition in which abnormally high pressure in the arteries increases the risk of problems such as stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney damage.

Our cover story this week is on Hypertension. To many people, the word hypertension suggests excessive tension, nervousness or stress. In medical terms, however, hypertension refers to a condition of elevated blood pressure, regardless of the cause.

When blood pressure is checked, two values are recorded. The higher one occurs when the heart contracts (systole); the lower occurs when the heart relaxes between beats (diastole). Blood pressure is written as the systolic pressure followed by the diastolic pressure. 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. In high blood pressure usually both the systolic and diastolic pressure are evaluated.

In most people, high blood pressure causes no symptoms, despite coincidental occurrence of certain symptoms that are widely – but erroneously – believed to be associated with high blood pressure headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, flushed face and tiredness. Untreated high blood pressure increases, a persons risk of developing heart disease, kidney failure and stroke etc.

Antihypertensive drugs are used to control hypertension. There are, now-a-days very effective and improved drugs and they are extremely safe. However, it is suggested that one should avoid drug as much as possible and go for natural ways of controlling pressure i.e. by exercise, weight control, diet and changing attitude towards lifestyles.

 

 

 

From the Editor

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is generally a symptom-less condition in which abnormally high pressure in the arteries increases the risk of problems such as stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney damage. Our cover story this week is on Hypertension. To many people, the word hypertension suggests excessive tension, nervousness or stress. In medical terms, however, hypertension refers to a condition of elevated blood pressure, regardless of the cause. When blood pressure is checked, two values are recorded. The higher one occurs when the heart contracts (systole); the lower occurs when the heart relaxes between beats (diastole). Blood pressure is written as the systolic pressure followed by the diastolic pressure. 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. In high blood pressure usually both the systolic and diastolic pressure are evaluated. In most people, high blood pressure causes no symptoms, despite coincidental occurrence of certain symptoms that are widely but erroneously believed to be associated with high blood pressure headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, flushed face and tiredness. Untreated high blood pressure increases, a persons risk of developing heart disease, kidney failure and stroke etc. Antihypertensive drugs are used to control hypertension. There are, now-a-days very effective and improved drugs and they are extremely safe. However, it is suggested that one should avoid drug as much as possible and go for natural ways of controlling pressure i.e. by exercise, weight control, diet and changing attitude towards lifestyles.