Dangerously High Blood Pressure Levels Can Create Significant Cardiovascular Problems

Medical professionals determine the blood pressure in millimeters of mercury. A high systolic blood pressure level is any number higher than 140. A high diastolic blood pressure level is any measurement more than 90. People who test higher than these numbers over two or more successive medical screenings are considered to have stage one hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is a diastolic measure above 100 and a systolic blood pressure level of more than 160. People who have stage 2 hypertension are considered to be in a medical emergency. Find out more about dangerously high blood pressure.

How Do We Recognize This And What Can We Do About It?

High blood pressure levels do not always have a known cause. Nor will an individual with high blood pressure necessarily notice any symptoms. Consequently, hypertension is often described as the "silent killer." In fact a person can have high blood pressure level for several years without even recognizing it. The only way to know whether or not you have hypertension is with regular medical screenings. It is not until a person develops stage 2 hypertension that they begin to notice that anything is wrong.

A person with very high blood pressure levels may notice a severe headache, queasiness, weakness, and vision problems. If you notice any of these problems and you know, or suspect that you might have a dangerously high blood pressure level, go to the local medical clinic .

The Pitfalls

If hypertension is left unchecked it can do severe damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. People with dangerously high blood pressure levels, who do not receive the needed treatment are at very high risk of eye damage, stroke, aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, and even death. Therefore regular blood pressure screenings from a health care provider are most important.

Treatment Programs

If two or more successive tests verify that you have hypertension, then there is a much that you can do to help yourself. A healthy low-fat diet and regular exercise can help to decrease your blood pressure. Even a moderate amount of healthy weight loss can help reduce the problem of hypertension.

You should also eat less salt, cut down on alcohol consumption, and stop smoking. Many medications are also available to treat high blood pressure levels. Diuretics are helpful for people with stage one hypertension because they reduce the amount of sodium in the bloodstream and reduce blood volume.

Your health care provider may also prescribe calcium channel blockers, which lower high blood pressure levels by slackening the muscles of the artery walls. Beta blockers are another alternative since they lower the heart rate and decrease the strength of heart contractions to lower some of the pressure. Then there are ACE inhibitors which inhibit a hormone called angiotensin, which is a chemical that makes the blood vessels tighten and can therefore exacerbate hypertension.

To learn about the full range of medicines available to treat dangerous levels of your own blood pressure, talk to your health care provider.

Alternative programs are also available for natural control of your own blood pressure results. There are physical or mental exercises which reduce tension and stress. Acupuncture and meditation can also reduce your stress levels and bring down your blood pressure levels.
 

Rodger Bailey, MS is committed to natural health and writes about health issues. He focuses on blood pressure & hypertension, diet, developmental problems, sensitivities and intolerances, our immune system, natural and alternative solutions, and how we interact with the environment.