What is Hypertension?
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a condition when your blood pressure is consistently higher than normal.
How do I know whether I have hypertension?
Measure your blood pressure. It can be measured using a sphygmomanometer or ‘BP set’.
What is blood pressure?
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart contracts. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart relaxes.
Blood pressure is usually written with two values :
*Upper value indicates systolic pressure
*Lower value indicates diastolic pressure
If your blood pressure is written 120/80 mmHg, it means that your systolic blood pressure is 120 mmHg and your diastolic blood pressure is 80 mmHg. MmHg is for millimeter Mercury.
Why is it important to measure my blood pressure regularly?
It is important to determine whether you have high blood pressure or not. 90% of people with hypertension are without symptoms, leaving only 10% who present with symptoms.
Control of blood pressure can prevent death from heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and blindness. Heart attack and stroke are among the major causes of death in most of the country. Personal health care play important to prevent hypertension and bring us to healthy living.
Do I have hypertension?
Normal blood pressure is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 to 139 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure is 80 to 89 mmHg.
If either one or both pressures are consistently higher than those limits, you may have hypertension.
When shall I check my blood pressure?
You are advised to check your blood pressure at least once a year, or when you visit the health clinic.
Where can I have my blood pressure checked?
You can check your blood pressure in any government or private clinics and hospitals.
What shall I do if my blood pressure is raised?
Consult your family doctor or nearest health clinic. The doctor will measure your blood pressure several times before concluding whether you have hypertension or not.
How to maintain normal blood pressure?
Practice healthy lifestyle :
*Lose weight if you are overweight.
*Eat Healthily - Reduce salt in your diet.
*Be physically active - Start a regular exercise programme.
*Do not smoke - Stop, if your are smoking.
*Learn to handle stress.
June 19th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Good info on hypertension, thanks. I did not realize that 90% of people with high blood pressure do not have symptoms.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:00 am
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