High Blood Pressure Part 1 - Managing It
Posted: Sunday, November 13, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Much has been written about blood pressure over the years. Doctors and researchers now understand the heart, blood pressure and most of the workings of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems very well and more is being learned as time passes.
For the purposes of this article, I have chosen to write about high blood pressure in very clear, succinct terms and in shortened format in several parts.
I had one blood pressure years ago, while in a difficult work situation that spiked my readings so incredibly off the charts that the doctor thought I was in imminent and serious trouble.
The unavoidable fact about high blood pressure is that you feel no symptoms. Yet unchecked and without medical control, an individual suffering from consistent elevated pressure can experience serious or life threatening problems.
Have you ever really considered exactly what blood pressure is? This is the clearest (to me anyway) medical explanation; it is the “force of blood against the artery walls.” What that means is the power or force expended by the heart is overly or too strong. Even more simply stated, the heart is working way too hard as it pumps to move the blood.
As this hard work performed by the heart continues day in and day out, the heart becomes damaged. In addition, the arteries and blood vessels, other organs and even the eyes can sustain damage. When high blood pressure is brought under control by medication, such adverse damage to the heart and other affected areas of the body can be managed.
The doctor may take several readings and see whether the patient has doctor BP – stress by doctor is what mine calls it – and make a notation. If the higher readings persist, chances are the doctor will want to investigate the readings further. That may be the start of high blood pressure awareness for the patient.
When confirmation is made that he/she does, indeed, have higher than normal BP readings, the doctor may insist on medication to lower the blood pressure.
The medications differ from one another. Some drugs work directly on the heart and the blood vessels; others are meant to get rid of any excess fluid or possibly salt from the body.
Safe, knowledgeable ingestion of medication –
- It is very important to regularly take the prescribed drugs at the same time every day.
- The medication should be taken daily without missing a dose.
- If a dosage is missed, it is never all right to double the dosage the next time.
- Absolutely never stop taking medication unless confirmed or advised by the doctor.
- Stopping blood pressure medication without checking could be harmful.
That brings home the words my own mother always told me, “No drug works within the body without affecting something else.”
I put it this way, point < > counterpoint.
The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)It's important for people to take their blood pressure, and to eat right. There are young men I know, who have had high blood pressure under the age of thirty. I've never had to deal with that, in fact I've always had low blood pressure, which has translated to normal as I get older. People do need to be careful when taking medications, especially ones so powerful Great article, and a good reminder to those who haven't taken their BP lately.That's sad - but people can have serious problems with Blood Pressure especially those with a family history. My brother has it, my mother had it and one minute she was standing and the next minute she died, just like that. My father died of heart related problems in his sleep at the age I am right now. His brother died even younger. We're a small family but obviously it affects us. I hope the article serves as a bit of an attention getter since it's broken down into minimum reading. You're sweet to read - I'll be getting into it later too. Love to see what everyone has to say.
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