Written by John Immel
What is High Blood Pressure?
The concept of blood pressure is simple - it refers to the force of blood pressing against the walls of your arteries. Healthy blood pressure is around 120/80mm Hg. When your blood pressure reaches or exceeds 140/90 mm Hg, you may be diagnosed with hypertension by a doctor. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood and causes atherosclerosis, as well as increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also damage other organs. Heart disease as a leading cause of death in America. Many pharmaceuticals used to treat high blood pressure have strong side effects. Fortunately there are many foods, herbs and lifestyle changes you can implement to prevent high blood pressure, reduce the dosage of your medications, or bring your blood pressure back to a normal, healthy level. These home remedies are slowly gaining recognition as complementary choices to western medicine, however individual results may vary and it is always a good idea to check with your medical doctor before beginning any new health & wellness program.
What Does High Blood Pressure Feel Like?
Blood pressure is often referred to as a 'silent killer' because many people do not know they have it. Some individuals may experience a pounding feeling in their head or chest, a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness, or nosebleeds. You may have a flushed face, or notice blood spots in your eyes where vessels have burst. It is important to note that these symptoms may not occur until your blood pressure has reached dangerous levels. If your blood pressure is extremely high you may experience:
- Severe headache
- Fatigue or confusion
- Vision problems
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Blood in the urine
- Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears
When your doctor measures your blood pressure, he or she uses a sphygmomanometer. A sphygmomanometer measures systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure on the blood vessel when the heart beats. When your heart relaxes between beats, the pressure in your arteries naturally drops. This is the diastolic pressure, and is the second number in your reading. For instance 120/80 Hg mm means that your systolic pressure is 120 and your diastolic pressure is 80. Doctors may also use an opthalmoscope, a device used to see if blood vessels in eyes are thickened, narrowed, or burst.
