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Stroke and high blood pressure

Highbloodpressure(hypertension)isthemostsignificantknownriskfactorforstroke.Blood pressureisameasurementoftheforceexertedonthearterywallsbythepumpingblood.Ifyou havehighbloodpressure,yourbloodispumpingharderthanitshouldandthisputsunnecessary strainonthevesselsofthecirculatorysystem. Hypertensionisoftencalledthesilentkillerbecausemostpeopledontevenrealisetheyhaveit.A personwithhighbloodpressuremayhavenosymptomsoftheconditionatall,soregularmedical check-upsareimportant.Highbloodpressurecanbemild,moderateorsevere.Hypertensionalso contributestootherseriousandpotentiallylife-threateningconditions,includingheartattack,heart failureandkidneydisease.Untreatedhypertensioncanalsocausepermanenteyedamage.

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Measuring blood pressure

Twomeasurementsaretakenwhenassessingbloodpressure: Systolicthepressureinsidethearteryasapulseofbloodarrivesfromtheheart.The upperlimitofnormalis140. Diastolictherestingpressureinsidethearterybetweenpulses.Theupperlimitof normalis90.

Normalbloodpressureisaround120/80,whilehigh-normalbloodpressureis120/80to140/90. Highbloodpressureiswhenyourbloodpressureisconsistentlyover140/90.Thisiscalled hypertension.Apersonwithuntreatedhypertensionisfourtimesmorelikelytohaveastroke thansomeonewhosebloodpressurefallswithinthehealthyrange.

The effects of high blood pressure

Highbloodpressurecanincreasetheriskofstrokeindifferentways.Itcan: Acceleratetheeffectsofatherosclerosis,aconditioncharacterisedbyanarrowingofthe arteriesduetothebuild-upoffattyplaques Dislodgecholesterolplaquesfromthearterywalls,whichcanthenblockbloodflowtothe brain(embolicstroke) Weakenarterywalls,leadingtovesselbreakageandbleedingintothebrain(haemorrhagic stroke) Thickenandstiffenthearterywallsduetotheconstantstressload Causeahaemorrhagicstrokeinpeoplebornwithraremalformationsofthebloodvessels inthebrain.

Risk factors of stroke

Highbloodpressureiscausedbyacombinationofdifferentfactors,someofwhichinclude: Adiethighinfatandsalt Obesity Lackofexercise Cigarettesmoking Chronicstress Heavydrinking Highbloodcholesterollevels Hereditaryfactors

Strokeandhighbloodpressure

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Advancingage Gender(menareathigherrisk) Diabetes.

Healthier choices can reduce your risk

Somefactors,suchasage,genderandfamilyhistory,areimpossibletochange.However,youcan controlhighbloodpressureandreduceyourriskofstrokeifyou: Makehealthydietandlifestylechoices Loseweight Giveupsmoking Limitalcoholconsumption Exerciseregularly Usestressmanagementtechniques.

Medicationsareavailablebut,whiledrugscanloweryourbloodpressure,theycantcurethe condition.Itisimportanttodiscussyouroptionswithyourdoctorandworktoreduceyourblood pressureundersupervision.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor Anaccreditedpractisingdietitian,contacttheDietitiansAssociationofAustralia. NationalStrokeFoundationStrokeLineTel.1800787653

Things to remember

Highbloodpressureistheleadingriskfactorforstroke. Thereareoftennoobvioussymptomsofhighbloodpressure.Regularmedicalcheck-ups areimportant. Treatmentoptionsincludedietandlifestylechangesandmayalsoincludemedication.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

NationalStrokeFoundation
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Strokeandhighbloodpressure

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