Have YOU got high blood pressure? Everything you NEED to know and how to combat it...
BLOOD PRESSURE is something often joked about in the office when there's a high level of stress, but it is a serious condition.
Dr Pixie McKenna has explained what high blood pressure is and how it can affect you
Not enough people understand how dangerous high blood pressure can be, and what can raise it significantly - like the affect of salt in your diet.
Express.co.uk spoke to Dr Pixie McKenna - doctor and TV presenter - about the likelihood ofheart attacks, monitoring your BP and the link to kidney disease.
What is high blood pressure?
The force the blood puts on your blood vessel walls is called blood pressure. Weirdly we measure it in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) with normal blood pressure being 140/90 or less. The top number is called the systolic blood pressure and is the pressure reading taken when the heartbeats. The bottom number (doctors call this the diastolic) is the reading taken in between beats when the heart relaxes. Doctors call high blood pressure hypertension.
The force the blood puts on your blood vessel walls is called blood pressure. Weirdly we measure it in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) with normal blood pressure being 140/90 or less. The top number is called the systolic blood pressure and is the pressure reading taken when the heartbeats. The bottom number (doctors call this the diastolic) is the reading taken in between beats when the heart relaxes. Doctors call high blood pressure hypertension.
How does that compare to low blood pressure?
This is the opposite of the above where the pressure in the arteries is abnormally low. A reading less than 90/60 is by definition low. Doctors refer to low blood pressure as hypotension
This is the opposite of the above where the pressure in the arteries is abnormally low. A reading less than 90/60 is by definition low. Doctors refer to low blood pressure as hypotension
High blood pressure can be extremely dangerous and even lead to heart attacks
Is high blood pressure stress related?
Yes it can be. Stress revs us up and in doing so it can rev up our blood pressure because it causes us to release cortisol and adrenaline, which are our so-called "stress hormones".
Yes it can be. Stress revs us up and in doing so it can rev up our blood pressure because it causes us to release cortisol and adrenaline, which are our so-called "stress hormones".
Can you inherit high blood pressure?
Yes. If you have a relative with high blood pressure you are more likely to suffer. Interestingly this is thought to be a combination of both genes and environment.
Yes. If you have a relative with high blood pressure you are more likely to suffer. Interestingly this is thought to be a combination of both genes and environment.
Can what you eat affect it?
Yes! Having too much salt in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure. This means you need to stop adding salt to you food. Not only this you also need to avoid processed foods as 3/4 of the salt in our diet is hidden in foods, e.g. microwave meals, canned foods and takeaways. Low fat diets, which are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, can also help to reduce blood pressure.
Yes! Having too much salt in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure. This means you need to stop adding salt to you food. Not only this you also need to avoid processed foods as 3/4 of the salt in our diet is hidden in foods, e.g. microwave meals, canned foods and takeaways. Low fat diets, which are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, can also help to reduce blood pressure.
Be careful about drinks too as alcohol and caffeine can also contribute to elevations in blood pressure.
Source: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/600824/Have-I-got-high-blood-pressure
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