Facts

• An estimated one-third of women and men in the United States have high blood pressure, which is a primary cause of death for adults. It is a key factor in over two-third of the heart attacks in America and 77 percent of the strokes. Hypertension is directly related to 26 percent of chronic kidney failures and influences the body's circulation. The presence of high blood pressure also creates a higher risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Hypertension and related issues drains over $100 billion from the American economy.
  
  

Causes

• Everyone is urged to implement high blood pressure precautions in their normal lifestyle; however, it is difficult to plan accordingly because there are no specific causes a person can monitor. Obesity, smoking and diabetes are known factors that can increase a person's chance of getting hypertension, but these conditions are not considered primary reasons for developing the disease.
  In 90 percent of the people with high blood pressure, they have what is called essential or primary hypertension. This means there is an absence of an identifiable cause for the disease. Secondary hypertension is usually associated with medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, kidney disease, hormone imbalance and certain medications.
  
  

Symptoms

• High blood pressure is often referred to as the "silent killer" because most persons with hypertension never demonstrate any symptoms of the disease. Individuals can actually go about their lives for years without showing any noticeable signs. Even when there are indications, they are often mild and can be attributed to other conditions. Some typical symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea and blurred vision.
  High blood pressure is a progressive disease that can affect vital body structures, including kidneys, heart, eyes, brain and blood vessels. Approximately 1 percent of the people with hypertension avoid medical attention until the severity of the symptoms forced them to consult a doctor.
  
  

Measuring Blood Pressure

• It is strongly recommended that people take regular readings of their blood pressure, which can be measure by blood pressure machine or a device called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers: systolic pressure (over) diastolic pressure. It is measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. For example, 125/80, is stated as "125 over 80." Both numbers are important. As people age, systolic blood pressure takes on even greater significance.
  The systolic pressure is a measurement of your pressure inside the blood vessels the instant your heart beats. Diastolic measures the pressure when your heart is resting between heart beats. You should not smoke or drink coffee 30 minutes prior to measuring your blood pressure, and clear your bladder before taking a reading. In addition, take a couple of measurements, two minutes apart and then average the readings.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• It is important for people to individuals to understand what risk factors are related to high blood pressure. People who are overweight, inactive and consume too much alcohol have a higher probability for hypertension. Therefore they are more susceptible to life-threatening conditions, including strokes, kidney failure and chronic heart disease. There are some high blood pressure precautions you can take to control or help prevent hypertension.
  A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the following lifestyle changes can help people lower their blood pressure: minimizing your alcohol intake; maintaining normal body weight; working out; consuming folic acid; and eliminating over-the-counter pain medication and following a healthy diet.
  
  

Normal Blood Pressure

• Typically, "normal" blood pressure is considered to be an average reading of 120/80 mmHg or below. An average reading is comprised of reading taken over a minimum of three days. When determining your normal blood pressure range, you should take into consideration your family history and personal lifestyle.