Show The Human Humin g Hypertension The Silent Killer Side de i Stalks its Victims Muriel Gordon Registered Nurse What do these numbers mean They are different blood pressure readings Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted on the walls of the arteries by the heart in its effort to pump blood through the body Blood pressure is measured in two numbers The t top p number of systolic systolic systolic is the pressure created when the heart contracts The bottom number the diastolic is the pressure when the heart relaxes thus systolic 80 diastolic Some factors contributing to hypertension you h have ve no control over include gender heredity and ethnic origin African Americans are more likely to have hypertension sion as are males In addition the incidence of hypertension increases with age Factors we have more control over that increase blood pressure include being overweight heavy alcohol consumption sedentary sedentary sedentary seden seden- tary lifestyle use of oral contraceptives tives medications such as steroids anti nasal decongestants cold remedies diet pills in int antidepressants and inhibitors Also people with diabetes kidney disease disease disease dis dis- dis- dis ease and gout have a higher frequency frequency frequency fre fre- fre- fre quency for hypertension Hypertension is treatable For mild hypertension treatment may include dietary changes such as decreasing the amount of salt and alcohol in your diet becoming more active through exercise and for overweight people losing weight Medication treatment for more serious hypertension may include the following diuretics to rid the body of excess fluids and sodium which reduce the heart rate and the hearts heart's output of blood vasodilators which dilate the blood vessels ACE converting enzyme inhibitor the chemical that causes the arteries to constrict calcium channel blockers which relax blood vessels and reduce heart rate and sympathetic nerve inhibitors Hypertension is called the silent killer because symptoms are not always apparent Symptoms that may appear include shortness of breath dizziness fatigue and blurred vision Why not stop by byone byone byone one of our two Health Center locations locations locations loca loca- at for a blood pressure check t |