The technical name for high blood pressure, hypertension is an insidious and dangerous condition.
It is insidious because there are usually no symptoms until it is at a life threatening level.
It is dangerous because of the many serious effects it has on the body, including heart problems and stroke.
Learning the various causes of this condition is helpful for learning to avoid developing high blood pressure and to learning to live with it should we have it.
Hypertension is caused by the narrowing of the arterial vessels, which increases the pressure of the blood flowing through them.
This makes the heart work much harder to maintain adequate blood flow throughout the body.
Damage to the heart and blood vessel is the result, if this condition is allowed to persist unchecked, leading to heart attack, stroke, and kidney or heart failure.
It is estimated that at least one third of hypertension sufferers are not aware of their condition and that it affects upwards of twenty-five percent of all North Americans.
It is more common in men than in women until age fifty-five, after which it affects more women than men; and African Americans of both sexes are significantly more likely to suffer from hypertension than any other racial or ethnic group.
Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer, more commonly known as the blood pressure cuff.
The unit of measure is milligrams of mercury, abbreviated to 'mm HG'.
There are two numbers associated with the blood pressure - the systolic pressure, which is the first number, reveals the pressure at which the heart is pumping blood out when it contracts.
The diastolic, being the second number given, refers to the pressure as the heart relaxes to allow blood to flow back into it.
In an adult, optimal blood pressure is accepted to be 120/80 mm HG.
When the reading is 140/90 mm HG or higher, this is considered the indicator for hypertension.
About ninety-five percent of cases are what doctors refer to as 'essential hypertension'; meaning that there is no clear, discernable cause for the condition.
The other five or so percent are classified 'secondary hypertension' where the disease is the result of other medical issues like kidney failure or liver disease, or are a side effect of medications.
Large quantities of salt in the diet, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive alcohol consumption are all related to the development and complications of hypertension.
Undetected or under-treated hypertension can lead to several very serious conditions.
The increased pressure over time will cause the blood vessel walls to thicken and harden, becoming less flexible and more susceptible to the build up of fatty deposits.
This is arteriosclerosis, commonly referred to as 'hardening of the arteries' and can cause serious blood supply degradation throughout the body.
Weakened sections of the blood vessels can balloon out, creating an aneurysm.
Should the aneurysm burst, internal hemorrhaging occurs.
Either of these conditions in the brain can lead to stroke.
Because the heart is working harder, the heart muscle itself can grow larger, resulting in much less efficient pumping of the blood.
This can lead to heart failure if left unchecked.
A less commonly known effect of hypertension is on the kidneys.
Many do not understand the vital function of the kidneys in the removal of toxins from the body, and also their key role in the regulation of salt in the blood.
Hypertension can damage the small vessels inside the kidney making the kidney less efficient at filtering the blood.
This can lead to a serious buildup of waste materials in the kidney, a condition called uremia.
Kidney failure will result if this is not treated.
Healthful eating, moderate exercise, reduced alcohol consumption and the avoidance of smoking can often prevent hypertension from developing; and can also be all the treatment needed, should the condition exist.
There are also many medication options for cases that do not respond well to lifestyle changes.
A good healthy lifestyle is the best bet to avoid contracting hypertension in the first place.