Am I at Risk for Hypertension?

          It's hard to tell if you have hypertension because there aren't any symptoms to deal with in its earlier stage until it reaches complication. That's when the real problem comes in. But if you feel some severe headache and occasional nosebleed along with it chances are you might be hypertensive.

          Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common condition that may lead to complications and severe health problems. Normally, it is a symptom of many illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and heart failure. In USA alone, almost half of its population has severe hypertension according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

          Hypertension comes in three major types namely essential, secondary and systolic hypertension. Essential hypertension occurs without any known cause. On the other hand, when hypertension is triggered by other conditions such as a disease, it is called secondary hypertension. Lastly, systolic hypertension is where the systolic blood pressure number is higher than normal. This type of hypertension is common in the elderly.

          However, despite having a general lack of symptoms, one can easily detect an uncontrolled hypertension since some of the major organs, like the kidney and the heart, can actually feel some discomfort whenever such condition attacks. If you feel an excessive and ongoing pressure in your blood, it's an indication that your blood is actually fighting its way through the walls of your arteries as it is pumped from your heart to your body.

          Aneurysm or an abnormal "ballooning" of arteries is also one of the effects of hypertension which can lead to vision changes and blindness due to bursting of one's arteries. But take to heart, hypertension isn't so bad the symptoms show. Most of the time hypertension is just a minor wake-up call. It is just a signal that we have to take it easy on either our lifestyle or in the food we eat. 

          Just to make sure, you have to keep an eye on your blood pressure. It usually rises as your age progresses. But if you're the kind that keeps a detailed track of your blood pressure, you need not worry much. Obesity is also a concern as it is sometimes hereditary and very hard to fix.  

          Most of the time, if you can find the right means to take control and manage your body rhythms and your emotional responses, the blood pressure stays at a fairly normal level. Looking at a beautiful scenery or a radiant baby’s face, reading a good book you like, taking a leisurely walk in the afternoon are just some of the natural hypertension cures. To sum it all up, take it easy!