Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is considered one of the major medical problems of modern times. The average blood pressure should be 120/80 for males, and slightly lower for females.
When too much energy is being exerted by the heart in order to pump blood through the arteries, this is called hypertension or high blood pressure. The top number of 120 represents the systolic pressure. This is the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart is in mid contraction. The bottom number of 80 is the diastolic pressure. This is the amount of pressure in the arteries while the heart is in rest.
Diastolic pressure or the bottom number is considered to be the most important number to monitor as it reflects the amount of pressure in the arteries while the heart is at rest. High blood pressure causes the heart to have pumped the blood through the circulatory system with intense force. This stress and strain will also begin to affect the entire cardiovascular system.
While the main cause of high blood pressure is not yet solidified, there are some risk factors that are proven to increase the risk. Smoking, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, high cholesterol, stress, obesity and high sodium ingestion are just to name a few. In addition, the narrowing of blood vessels due to fatty elements and cholesterol also holds a key factor in the onset of high blood pressure. Research also suggests that “unnaturally” produced fats and oils such as margarine increase the risk more than that of fats and oils produced naturally.
Unfortunately, no research has yet been conducted on the affects of refined unsaturated oils verses unrefined cold pressed unsaturated oils. Refined oils are of a greater risk as they change during the high temperature of processing. In addition, hydrogenated oils like margarine are extremely bad for the body as they interfere with the body’s fatty acid metabolism. High blood pressure is the number one sign of fatty acid deficiency.
Hypertension is known as the silent killer because often times, this condition does not exhibit any symptoms at all until it is in its advanced stages, wreaking havoc on the internal organs with irreversible effects.
Symptoms of advanced high blood pressure include dizziness, headache, rapid pulse, nervousness, irritability, energy loss, fatigue, insomnia, sweating, visual disturbances and frequent nosebleeds. Later symptoms include hypertensive heart disease with enlarged heart and possible left ventricular failure, myocardial infarction, possible senility, cerebral hemorrhage, paralysis and death.
A person with high blood pressure should be closely monitored by a physician and be checked at least every six months. Prolonged high blood pressure can result in damage to the kidneys with secondary conditions surfacing, such as end-stage renal failure, which requires weekly dialysis (blood filtering) treatments.