high blood pressure.pdf

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High Blood PressureThe Silent Killer


Corbis #SLI0061, #RLM0063; Photodisc #MD002180

Today our topic is high blood pressure, the silent killer.

Imagine having a life threatening disease that could take your lifesuddenly, without any warningbut the problem is, you are one of the

millions who dont know they have it.

Photodisc #40205

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most widespread

health problems of the 2stcentury.

!round the world "## million people are suffering from high blood

pressure$

$and % million of these die every year as a directresult.

Br!d" #B"P2880

In &urope about in every ' persons has hypertension.2

$i%d&ood Li'(st)%( C(!t(r

High blood pressure can attack people of any age, creed, or color.

In the (.). fifty percent of those over the age of *#, and seventy percent

of those over "' have it.

+ecause high blood pressure often has no symptoms$

$half of those who have it dont even know%, and those who do knowoften neglect treatment because they feel fine.


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-nly one out of eight with the condition has their blood pressure under

control.

Corbis #SLI0050

Is having just a little high blood pressure really of muh

signifiane!

Hypertensives are eight times more likely to suffer a stroke,

$three times more likely to have a heart attack,

$and five times more likely to develop heart failure than people

with normal blood pressure.

Li'( *rt #C*208001, #C*206002, #C*20+004

ersistent high blood pressure can also lead to irreversible damage of the

kidneys, pancreas, and retina of the eye.

Corbis #RLM0063

Hypertension is known as the silent killer. )lowly and silently, it can

destroy vital organs of the body without a person knowing it.

(nfortunately for many, the first sign is often a stroke or sudden heart

attack. /or some, the first sign may also be their last.

*DM

The nursing homes and cemeteries are filled with many people who had0ust 1a little high blood pressure.

Corbis #SLI0033; (-(r .(ch!o%o/i(s

"o you have high blood pressure!

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Cor(%; $i%d&ood Li'(st)%( C(!t(r

To answer this 3uestion you must first know what blood pressure is.

+lood pressure is the pressure of the blood inside the heart and the blood

vessels.

The higher number is the pressure while the heart is pumping.

The lower number is the pressure while the heart is resting between beats.

Photodisc #MD002180

Hypertension is defined as having a consistent blood pressure of *# over

4# 5*#64#7 or above.

The ideal level is when the blood pressure is kept belo#2# over 8#52#68#7.!nything above this is associated with increased risk of diseasethe

higher the numbers, the greater the risk.*

)ome people wonder if lo#blood pressure is a problem 5around 4#6'#7.The answer is no, 0ust as long as the individual is feeling well.'

$hat auses the blood pressure to go up!

!ppro9imately 4#: of hypertension cases may be related to personal

lifestyle habits."

The following lifestyle factors have been repeatedly shown to increase a

persons risk of getting high blood pressure;

%


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Photodisc #BS05013

%besity&very kilo of fat re3uires about %,' km of tiny blood vessels. It takes

e9tra pressure to pump blood through them. /or this reason, people 2#:

or more overweight are five times more likely to have hypertension than

are people of normal weight.

(-(r Photob(cts

High salt inta&e

!round the world, high blood pressure is uncommon in populations

where the salt intake is also very low. in many cultures salt intake is on the

increase.

(-(r Photob(cts; $i%d&ood Li'(st)%( C(!t(r

!mericans, for e9ample, consume an average of two teaspoonfuls of salt

a daythats about " times more than the body actually needs?8

Lo- Li!drdi!/( S(ri(s

Smo&ing0ust one cigarette can elevate blood pressure for as long as %#

minutes.4!t this rate, a typical packperday smoker is elevating hisblood pressure for most of the day.#

*


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(-(r .(ch!o%o/i(s

'lohol and affeine

)cientific studies have demonstrated that even moderate useof alcohol

may be the cause of ' to ': of all cases of hypertension. =ust %#'# mlof alcohol per day is all that is necessary to cause significant

hypertension.

(-(r .(ch!o%o/i(s

)tudies also show that one cup of coffee per day may raise the blood

pressure considerably' to " points.2

. (&%(tt

Plugged arteries=ust as mineral deposits buildup in an old rusty water pipe and cause

increased water pressure> so narrowed, plugged arteries force the body to

increase the blood pressure, in order to carry the blood supply throughout

the body.

*DM

Physial inativity is also associated with elevated blood pressure levels.

Photodisc #30+8

Stress!long with these other lifestyle factors, lifes stresses can raise anindividuals blood pressure.

Corbis #SLI0061

So #hat an #e do to treat high blood pressure!

The past few years have produced an avalanche of new drugs for

lowering blood pressure. They may produce prompt resultsthe 3uickfi9 that people love.

'


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Di/it% isio! #0+8016

+ut a closer look at hypertension medications reveals some

disturbing facts.

The drugs do not curehigh blood pressure> they only manage it. In some

cases the medications need to be taken for life, and they may have manyunpleasant side effects.

7oh! o99 #M1+30

+oth patients and physicians are increasingly dissatisfied with the drugapproach to the treatment of high blood pressure.

However, it is important to note that people currently taking blood

pressure medications should be careful not to change doses or stop

medicines on their own.

$i%d&ood Li'(st)%( C(!t(r; Co-stoc: #5262;Corbis #SLI0030

're there better alternatives to drug mediations!

! number of ma0or scientific studies have shown that a comprehensive

lifestyle approach to hypertension can give superior results without the

potential of distressing side effects.

@ost cases can be reversed in a matter of weeks without drugs, by

making simple diet and lifestyle changes.

Here are some of the things proven to be successful in lowering high

blood pressure;

Photodisc #MD002335

(edue $eight

Ahen the weight goes down the blood pressure levels usually follow.

Corbis #MI0035

(edue Salt inta&e! large percentage of people can find relief with 0ust this one simple

measure.

+ut getting salt intake down to safer levels re3uires an understanding of

where salt is found.

"


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(-(r .(ch!o%o/i(s

+anning the salt shaker is a step in the right direction)butby itself it is

notenough.

This accounts for only2' percent of our sodium intake.

The real culprits are theprocessedand fast foods we eat.

These account for


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*DM

&at an abundance of natural foods like whole grain products, salads,

beans, and fresh fruit. These foods are allnaturally$

Cow in salt

Cow fat, 5and7 High 5in7 fiber.

Co-stoc: #5262

Inrease Physial -.erisehysical e9ercise is known to lower blood pressure and is indispensable

in weight control.

Thirty to si9ty minutes of e9ercise daily, such as brisk walking or cycling

in the open air is ideal.

Corbis #SLI004

(eduing Stress is also essential. )imply following all the elements of ahealthy lifestyle enhances ones ability to deal with lifes stressors. !

healthy body and mind will give you the upper hand in coping with thestresses you face.

Co-stoc: #52

/or e9ample, research shows that regular physical e9ercise is one of the

simplest and most effective means of stress relief. &9ercise helps to

dissipate the$

Tension,

)tress,

and Depression,

which are so often associated with elevated blood pressure.

Di/it% isio! #0+8023, #+8015; *DM

Ahile tran3uiliBers are the best solution some have to offer for stress,

*DM

personal trust in Eod is the only real and effective solution to bring peace

to individuals living in a world filled with an9iety, stress and fear.

Eods word offers wonderful help to those who come to Him with the

cares and stresses of life.

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Corbis #*0100

Eod says, 1eace I leave with you> @y peace I give to you> not as the

world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it

be fearful. =ohn *;2< 5F!)7

Aith these few simple changes in lifestyle, you have an e9cellent chance

of reducing your blood pressure to a healthy level and keeping it there.

Gemember, health is a matter of lifestyle. Cifestyle is a choice$. and the

choice is yours?

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The Aorld Health -rganiBation 5AH-72 The health status of the &uropean (nion, p. 2%

%Ahy is Hypertension @anagement Feeded, 444 AH-I)H Hypertension ractice Euidelines /or rimary arehysicians, AH- ardiovascular Diseases rogram, Eeneva 2 pg. %#' Fedley, @D, Feil,Proof Positive> Fedley ublishing, 448, pg. *%

" Cudington, !ileen, and Diehl, Hans> 2###,Health Power, Geview and Herald ublishing, Hagerstown,@aryland, p.*#

< Cudington, !ileen, and Diehl, Hans> 2###,Health Power, Geview and Herald ublishing, Hagerstown,

@aryland, p.*#8 )tatement /rom the Fational High +lood ressure &ducation rogram oordinating ommittee. +ethesda, @D;

Fational High +lood ressure &ducation rogram, 44' and 444. 5source; roof ositive, p. %874 Japlan F@. @easurement of +lood ressure. In; linical Hypertension"th edition. +altimore, @D; Ailliams

and Ailkins, 44* p. 2%*'. 5roof ositive, p. *%7# Japlan F@. @easurement of +lood ressure. In; linical Hypertension"th edition. +altimore, @D; Ailliams

and Ailkins, 44* p. %#. 5roof ositive, p. *%7 Aakabayashi J, Fakamura J, et al. !lcohol consumption and blood pressure; an e9tended study of selfdefence

officials in =apan. Int = &pidemiol 44* !pr>2%527;%#

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