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FOR A HEART
ATTACK? STROKE?
OR HEART
DISEASE?
THESE ARE
COMLPLICATIONS
OF
HYPERTENSION
LEARN WHAT
HYPERTENSION IS
AND HOW TO
PREVENT IT.
WHAT IS HYPERTENSION ?
When someone has high blood pressure , this increased force makes the heart
If the force of the blood flow is high for some time, eventually the tissue
that makes up the walls of the arteries gets stretched beyond its healthy
limit.
This overstretching of the blood vessels makes them more prone to rupture.
Cigarette smoking- Smoking increases your risk for Cardiovascular disease. If you
have hypertension & smoke and/or take Oral contraceptives you have a greater risk
for Cardiovascular disease and blood clots.
Diabetes Mellitus- Hypertension is more common in Diabetics
men (<55 yr of age). After the age off 55 Hypertension is more common in
women.
Family history- Having a close blood relative ( parents or sibling) with
hypertension increases your risk of developing hypertension.
Obesity- Weight gain is highly associated with increased frequency of
Dizziness
Palpitations
There are also myths of headaches/nosebleeds believed to be related to HBP. According to the
AHA studies have shown that people with higher systolic (top number) blood pressure were up to
40% less likely to have headaches ( except in the cases of Hypertensive crisis SBP ≥180mmHg and
DSP ≥110mmHg)
It is important to know that nosebleeds can be associated with other factors,. Most common
reasons for nosebleeds are dry air especially in hot climates like the desert Southwest (Arizona).
Other causes may be allergies, sinusitis or anticoagulants such as Warfarin or aspirin.
Complications of Hypertension
Prevention Of Hypertension
check ups.
Your doctor may recommend checking your blood pressure at home if you have risk
factors of hypertension or if you have been diagnosed with pre-hypertension
(systolic -top number between 120 and 139 mm Hg OR diastolic -bottom number
between 80 and 89 mm Hg).
A record of readings taken over time can provide you and your healthcare
provider a clearer picture of your blood pressure.
AHA Recommendation:
The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, cuff- style, bicep
(upper-arm) monitor. Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because
they yield less reliable readings.
Prevention is Key