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 What
is Blood Pressure? |
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When the heart pumps blood into
the arteries, the blood flows with a force pushing against
the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is the product of
the flow of blood times the resistance in the blood vessels.
High blood pressure is also called hypertension. |
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How is
measured? |
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Blood pressure is measured with
a blood pressure cuff and recorded as two numbers, such as
10/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
The top, larger number is called the systolic pressure. This
is the pressure generated when the heart contracts (pumps).
It reflects the pressure of the blood against arterial
walls.
The bottom, smaller number is called the diastolic pressure.
This reflects the pressure in the arteries while the heart
is filling and resting between heartbeats. |
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Symptoms
In general, high blood pressure shows no symptoms. This is
one of the reasons for why it is called the silent killer.
One can have it for years without realizing its presence at
all. But when your body exhibits the following symptoms then
you should get yourself checked: headache, dizziness ,
blurred vision , nausea, vomiting , shortness of breath. |
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How is treated? |
Treatment begins with changes you can make to your lifestyle
to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of
heart disease. If these changes don't work, you may also
need to take medicine.
Even if you must take medicine, making some changes in your
lifestyle can help reduce the amount of medicine you must
take. Don't smoke cigarettes or use any tobacco product.
Lose weight if you're overweight. Exercise regularly, eat a
healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and
is low in fat. Limit sodium, alcohol and caffeine intake. |
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