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.
The bottom number or diastolic pressure is considered the most important number to be aware of as this indicates the amount of pressure present in the arteries when the heart is at rest. When a person has high blood pressure, the heart must work extremely hard to pump blood through the circulatory system. This puts an enormous amount of stress and strain on 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.
As of today, there have been no research studies conducted on the affects of refined unsaturated oils verses the effects of refined cold pressed unsaturated oils. Refined oils however do pose a greater risk as their molecular structure changes as it is subjected to the high temperatures of processing. Additionally, hydrogenated oils such as margarine also pose a threat as they interfere with the body’s fatty acid metabolism. Fatty acid deficiency is the number one known cause of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because it does not display any signs or symptoms until it is in its advanced stage. By this time, it has already wreaked havoc on the body’s other organs causing irreversible and permanent damage.
Symptoms of advanced hypertension include dizziness, eye problems, rapid pulse, headache, nose bleeds, nervousness, irritability, insomnia and energy loss. More advanced cases will exhibit symptoms such as 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.