Blood Pressure Guide » Heart rate

Possible Symptoms Of High Blood pressure

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:47:03 +0000

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition in which a person’s heart rate is elevated compared to the normal blood pressure range of most people. There are implications that this condition can cause a fatality in many people especially those who are not aware that they have this condition. The symptoms of high blood pressure are usually very vague and non specific that these often get overlooked if the person does not have any idea that he or she may have high blood pressure.

Non Specific Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure

One of the vague possible symptoms of high blood pressure is a headache and throbbing ache at the nape. Although there is little evidence that these are specific symptoms of high blood pressure many people with high blood pressure often report that these are prevalent in them when their heart rate accelerates. Being dizzy is also another of the more subtle symptoms of high blood pressure. Accompanying the dizziness is a feeling of nausea that does not happen often to the person who may have high blood pressure.

Yet another of the subtle or non specific types of symptoms of high blood pressure is blurry vision. This symptom is the one that may cause a person to panic since it is not actually a common thing to have unlike dizzy spells or a headache. Most people see or feel the effect of this symptom which is why it usually prompts them to see a doctor or have a check up. It is notable that these possible symptoms of high blood pressure usually occur in the head region which may imply the possibility of a stroke.

Natural Management Of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is not curable but can be managed to a certain extent. Medication is usually recommended by doctors as well as a high blood pressure diet and some lifestyle changes to manage and control the condition. Eating foods laden with cholesterol and saturated fats can ultimately contribute to high blood pressure. The symptoms of high blood pressure may or may not manifest as early as it is relatively safe for a person and the disease can develop overtime without the person ever knowing about it until it is too late. It is best to have a yearly check up for general physical health including a blood pressure check up. This will inform the person of his or her physical health and what to do about it.

About The Home Blood Pressure Monitor

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:19:53 +0000

When it comes to picking the right kind of home blood pressure monitor you will first of all have to choose from those that are manual and those that are digital. Though both these types of home blood pressure monitors work in essentially the same manner the digital ones provide readouts that are easier to understand as compared to what are provided by a manual monitor. In all other aspects both types of home blood pressure monitors are more or less the same in terms of their functionality.

Apply The Cuff

Whether you choose a manual or digital home blood pressure monitor you will still need to apply the cuff to your upper arm and when the cuff contracts it provides a reading on the monitor s gauge which in turn is an important component of your monitor. In a few instances it is also normal to find that this kind of monitor comes along with your home blood pressure monitor and the stethoscope is used to listen to the sounds made by your blood. However, only a trained ear can really understand the meaning of the sounds as they are made by your blood and so the stethoscope is only really used by professionals.

The typical manual home blood pressure monitor is very akin to the kind of conventional blood pressure monitor used in a doctor s clinic and the two kinds of devices work in much the same way as well. However, a stethoscope is required to listen to the sounds of blood which enable the nurse to understand what your blood pressure is.

Modern home blood pressure monitors are however those that incorporate more advanced technologies that make using these devices a lot simpler and the user do not require having any special kind of expertise to make use of the device. In the case of a digital home blood pressure monitor, the readings will reveal a person s heart rate as well as the flow of blood and in case of an automatic digital home blood pressure monitor the device will inflate as well as deflate on its own and so add to the value of the device.

A manual blood pressure monitor is mostly seen being used in doctors clinics and it consists of an arm cuff and a squeeze bulb as well as a stethoscope as well as medical gauge that helps in measuring the blood pressure. Such kind of a blood pressure monitor helps in providing very accurate readings which is why it is so often used in doctor s clinics.

What are the Causes of Low Blood Pressure

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:55:13 +0000

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of arteries while pumping the blood and during the resting position. Heart beat, temperature, rate of breathing and blood pressure are vital signs of life. The pressure of blood circulated by the heart is regulated by the response of arteries to the blood flow.
Blood pressure is represented as the ratio of systolic/diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure represents the pressure inside arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood. Diastolic pressure is the pressure inside arteries when heart relaxes after contracting.
Various Causes of Low Blood Pressure
The normal range of systolic pressure lies in the range of 90-120 mm/Hg for healthy adults, and diastolic pressure ideal range is 60-80 mm/Hg. If the lower blood pressure is too low, the oxygen and nutrients supply to brain and other vital organs is not adequate, resulting in improper functioning, and in certain cases, permanent damage of the organs. The low blood pressure is defined by signs and symptoms associated with low blood supply.
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of low blood pressure. Dehydration is common among the people suffering from prolonged diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. If the water is not replenished, large amounts of water is lost from the body due to vomiting and diarrhea. Heat exhaustion, excessive sweating and fever are other causes of dehydration.
Another cause of low blood pressure is the moderate or severe bleeding, as it can rapidly deplete the blood from the body. Bleeding can be caused due to trauma, gastrointestinal abnormalities or surgical complications. At times, the bleeding can be so rapid or severe that it can cause shock or even death.
Severe inflammation of internal organs, such as acute pancreatitis can also be the cause of low blood pressure. The blood pressure can also drop due to weakened heart muscles, Pericarditis, pulmonary embolism, slow heart rate, or abnormally fast heart rate.
There are certain medications that can be the cause of low blood pressure. These medications include beta blockers, calcium channel brokers and digoxin. Vasovagal reaction is another cause of low blood pressure, and is a condition where a normal person develops the slow heart rate, low blood pressure and at times, fainting. The reaction is caused due to emotion of pain or fear such as starting the intravenous infusion, having blood drawn or due to gastrointestinal upset.
Some of the other causes of low blood pressure include postural hypotension, micturition syncope, adrenal insufficiency, septicemia and anaphylaxis.
There are many dangers of low blood pressure if it drops below a certain level. When the blood pressure drops, the sudden change can cause the interruption in the supply of the blood to the heart, brain and kidneys, and can prove fatal.

A Guide to Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:31:13 +0000

Blood pressure is a force exerted on the walls of blood vessels by the circulating blood. The pressure in the blood is generated by heart pumping the blood into arteries, and is regulated by response of arteries to this blood flow. The blood pressure is expresses as systolic/diastolic, where top number indicates the pressure in the arteries when heart muscles contract and pump blood into them. The bottom number represents the pressure inside arteries when heart muscles relax after contracting. Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension.
For most healthy adults, systolic blood pressure is in the range of 90-120, and diastolic blood pressure is in the range of 60-80 mm Hg. Blood pressure lower than 120/80 is defined as low blood pressure, and 130/80 is considered high blood pressure.
Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure
For some people, low blood pressure is an indication of serious underlying health problem. Some of the most commonly experienced symptoms of low blood pressure are lightheadedness or dizziness, nausea, lack of concentration, fainting, rapid or shallow breathing, cold and pale skin, thirst, fatigue and depression.
In most instances, low blood pressure is not serious. If despite the low readings you feel fine, the doctor may just prescribe the routine exams. Occasional lightheadedness or dizziness are also relatively minor problems that can be caused due to mild dehydration. It is however important to keep the record of all your symptoms of low blood pressure when they occur. If you develop fainting along with chest pain, nausea vomiting or numbness/weakness in the body, call the emergency services. These could be the indicators of ongoing heart attack or other dangerous problems with central nervous system.
The first symptom of low blood pressure comes from the most sensitive organ to the blood flow, the brain. Dizziness, lightheadedness and loss of balance occur when getting up from a sitting or lying down positions. In severe cases, fainting occurs. Heart is also immediately affected by the low BP. Shortness of breath and chest pain along with palpitations can occur due to rapid heart rate and increased force of beat.
The paleness of the skin is caused as venous system dilates, and pools blood, requiring more blood from the skin. The symptoms of low blood pressure also affect kidney, liver and GI tract gradually.
For most of the people, the low blood pressure treatment includes making few diet and lifestyle changes. However, in certain cases, doctor may also prescribe Fludrocortisone or Midodrine for treating low blood pressure.

The Implications Of Having High Diastolic Blood Pressure

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:11:55 +0000

Blood pressure is read and shown with two numbers, one over the other. Systolic and diastolic pressures are the two numbers that indicate the state of one’s blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the reading that one gets when the heart is beating while diastolic is when the heart is at rest. High diastolic blood pressure has implications as to the health of the heart as well as systolic blood pressure.

A high diastolic blood pressure is usually followed by a high systolic blood pressure, although having a high systolic blood pressure is not necessarily followed by a high diastolic blood pressure. The blood pressure reading is usually written down with the systolic blood pressure above and the diastolic blood pressure below it. Low blood pressure is just as undesirable as high blood pressure because it implies that the person is also prone to other conditions which may cause him or her harm.

Proneness To High Blood Pressure

High diastolic blood pressure is usually reached at the range of somewhere above 89. Normal blood pressure is usually somewhere around 120/80, give or take a few. High diastolic blood pressure is usually above 89 and anywhere between 80 and 89 is considered as pre high blood pressure stage especially for those individuals with a family history of hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure. Having high diastolic blood pressure basically implies that the person will have or has high blood pressure.

Ways To Lower High Diastolic Blood Pressure

Lowering a high diastolic blood pressure is similar to lowering overall high blood pressure. A low fat, low salt diet is often recommended to people who have high diastolic blood pressure and those who have high blood pressure. The diet can be further augmented with fiber which is necessary to absorb unwanted fast and move waste disposal faster and more efficiently. Combining a diet for high diastolic blood pressure with an exercise program can also help, especially those who are still in the pre-hypertension stage. If the high diastolic reading decreases with the aide of diet and exercises, medication may not be necessary and the person will just need to watch his or her food intake as well as lead a life with more exercises.

Medications to lower high diastolic blood pressure may also be prescribed to individuals who show signs of having high blood pressure. These medications help an individual normalize his or her heart rate and make the blood stream more efficient in pumping out blood to vital organs and other body parts.

Effective High Blood Pressure Treatment Options

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:51:14 +0000

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. This condition can affect vital organs and other conditions of the person negatively. High blood pressure implies that the heart may be overtaxed sooner or later due to pumping more than it should. The heart rate is measured by reading the diastolic and systolic beats of the heart. High diastolic blood pressure, above 89 implies that the individual may be prone to high blood pressure since this is the reading of the heart at rest. There are plenty of factors that can lead a person to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure treatment comes in many different forms and may be combined to achieve the goal of controlling and managing blood pressure.

Diet As High Blood Pressure Treatment

This form of high blood pressure treatment entails going on a strict diet to minimize the intake of fatty, greasy and salty foods. This high blood pressure treatment is one of the first usually recommended by doctors to manage the condition. Food is one of the factors that usually add to the problems of having high blood pressure. The substances that we get from food are usually absorbed by the body via the blood stream. Diet as a high blood pressure treatment option is effective and can be singly recommended to individuals who are in the pre hypertension stage or combined with medication and exercise as a high blood pressure treatment program for those who already suffer from the condition.

Lifestyle Changes

One’s lifestyle usually contribute to a person’s health which is why lifestyle changes are often recommended as high blood pressure treatment options for those with this condition. Smoking should be stopped if a person wants to manage high blood pressure. Alcohol intake should be kept to a minimum in order to minimize the undesirable effect that it has on blood pressure.
Leaving a sedentary lifestyle in favor of one with regular exercises and workouts is also a recommendation for a high blood pressure treatment. Getting enough rest and minimizing stress exposure will also help to manage high blood pressure.

Medications

One of the most effective high blood pressure treatment options is to be prescribed medication to control and manage high blood pressure. There are several forms of medication that can be used as high blood pressure treatment but some of these may undesirable side effects including for those who are diabetics. It is best to complain to the prescribing doctor any side effects that occur frequently and disturbingly.

What High Blood Pressure Medication Does

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:10:00 +0000

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition where the heart ultimately strives more than it normally should to pump blood in and out of it. The pressure of the blood in the arteries and other blood passages is higher than what it should be normally. High blood pressure medication is usually recommended by doctors to manage and control this condition. Although high blood pressure medication is given to individuals who need this to control and manage their elevated blood pressure, this high blood pressure treatment is usually accompanied by a diet low on fatty, salty and greasy foods and high on fibers, fruits and vegetables.

Diuretics

These forms of high blood pressure medications are used to rid the body of excess amounts of sodium (commonly salt) and fluids. The excess sodium and fluids are excreted through urination and does help to manage and control high blood pressure but if these forms of high blood pressure medication do not work, other forms of medication may be combined with it or may take its place. This high blood pressure medication may have some undesirable side effects especially for people who also suffer from diabetes since these may increase the blood sugar levels of a diabetic.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzymes Inhibitors

This form of high blood pressure medication is best for those with diabetes because they do not affect the condition at all. It functions by expanding the blood vessels to make blood travel easier and faster, minimizing the stress on the person’s heart, and decreases resistance of blood flow.

Beta Blockers

This form of high blood pressure medication minimizes the amount of work that the heart does to pump blood out of it. This action helps to normalize the heart rate thus lowering blood pressure. In spite of this, the high blood pressure medication may have a negative effect on diabetics. Usually, beta blockers will not show the supposed heart rate increase a diabetic is supposed to have when he or she is low on blood sugar. This can be dangerous and the doctor may change the high blood pressure medication or the diabetes medication in favor of the patient.

Almost all of the high blood pressure medications mentioned above has some side effect which may consist of a cough, dizzy spells, insomnia, low levels of potassium and many more. It is important to notify the prescribing doctor of any disturbing side effect in so he might change the high blood pressure medication or do something to alleviate the side effect.