14 Sep What Do You Know About High Blood Pressure (HBP)?
High Blood Pressure, also known as the “Silent Killer” because many people don’t realize they have it. It most likely occurs as you aged as aging blood vessels gradually hardens and turns less flexible.
Healthy High Blood Pressure
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a healthy high blood pressure reads between 120/80mmHg and 130/85mmHg whereas figure between 130/85mmHg and 140/90mmHg indicates borderline high blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as number greater than 140/90mmHg.
Readings and levels
You can manage your blood pressure better by knowing the meaning behind the numbers.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
There are NO obvious signs and symptoms. Rarely, you may have headaches, shortness of breath or nose bleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren’t specific and usually do not occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life threatening stage. You can have HBP for years without knowing it.
Hence, please do health check-ups regularly to monitor your health status.
Consequences of Untreated High Blood Pressure
High force of blood flow increases the work load of blood vessels and heart. Overtime, this extra stress can eventually lead to serious complications, including stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and blindness.
Take a look at the graphic below:
References:
- National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp - American Heart Association (AHA). (2016). Don’t Let Your Heart Quit! Control Your Blood Pressure
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/Dont-Let-Your-Heart-Quit-Control-Your-Blood-Pressure_UCM_463599_SubHomePage.jsp - MayoClinic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/definition/con-20019580
No Comments