High Blood Pressure, The Silent Killer - Causes And Symptoms

Aorta Surgery:

Approximately 40% of adults in the Uk, i.e. More than 16 million people, should have lower blood pressure than they currently do if they are to avoid inherent condition problems lurking round the corner.

Hypertension is often referred to as 'the silent killer', because population rarely know they have it until the other condition conditions to which it has contributed cause them to be admitted to hospital. Untreated, it can not only lead to kidney damage, but it also increases the risk of a heart attack, a stroke and cardiovascular diseases, the latter being the Uk's biggest killer.

In the few cases where a person has extreme hypertension that has gone undetected, symptoms might consist of nosebleeds, shortness of breath, headaches, blurred or duplicate vision. Where there is a rapid rise in pressure, fits or black-outs have been known to occur.

Aorta Surgery:High Blood Pressure, The Silent Killer - Causes And Symptoms

The only way to find out whether you should have lower blood pressure is to have it checked ordinarily by a Gp.

Anybody over 40 should have their blood pressure checked at least every five years but ideally more frequently, particularly if you there are risk factors.

More than 90% of sufferers what is called primary hypertension, which means there is no one clear cause. However lifestyle factors are known to contribute. These consist of obesity, smoking, alcohol (especially binge drinking), unhealthy diet, lack of exercise. And, just as lower blood pressure runs in families, so does high blood pressure.

Around 5% of sufferers have secondary hypertension, which means the condition arises from, for example endocrine disease (i.e. Hormone disorders), kidney disease, a narrowing of the aorta or the arteries that lead into the kidneys. It can also be caused by the contraceptive pill, pregnancy (it can cause pre-eclampsia) and steroid medicines.

Most Gp surgeries and condition clinics offer systolic and diastolic checks on invite and some have a procedure of giving regular checks.

Aorta Surgery:High Blood Pressure, The Silent Killer - Causes And Symptoms