Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

What are the RISK FACTORS for hypertension?

*AGE- About age 45 in men, and about age 65 in women *RACE- More common among African-Americans *FAMILY HISTORY *BEING OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE *NOT BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE *USING TOBACCO *TOO MUCH SALT IN YOUR DIET *TOO LITTLE POTASSIUM IN YOUR DIET *TOO LITTLE VITAMIN D IN YOUR DIET *ALCOHOL ABUSE *STRESS *

What is HYPERTENSION?

*Is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

What leads to SECONDARY HYPERTENSION?

*KIDNEY PROBLEMS *ADRENAL GLAND TUMORS *THYROID PROBLEMS *ILLEGAL DRUGS *ALCOHOL ABUSE *OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

How is BLOOD PRESSURE determined?

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries are, the higher your blood pressure is.

What are the symptoms for HYPERTENSION?

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if readings reach dangerously high levels. Few people may have: *DULL HEADACHES *DIZZY SPELLS *or a FEW MORE NOSEBLEEDS THAN NORMAL

What is SECONDARY HYPERTENSION?

Tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does PRIMARY HYPERTENSION.

What is PRIMARY HYPERTENSION?

Tends to develop gradually over many years.