What is Hypertension?
Hypertension or more commonly known as High Blood Pressure occurs in 1 in 3 adults worldwide. Nearly 65% of people over 50 in suffer from it in Ireland & frighteningly nearly half of this number are unaware of their condition due to that fact that hypertension usually has no symptoms.
How does it occur?
Hypertension can occur on its own, particularly if there is a family history, however it can also caused by lifestyle factors such as
· A diet too high in sodium
· Over-consumption of alcohol & smoking
· Being overweight & lack of exercise
· Stress
Other factors including Diabetes Type 1 & 2, high cholesterol levels & the person being aged over 65 can lead to increased Hypertension.
What can happen?
If it isn’t diagnosed or treated properly, Hypertension will over time lead to a reduction of blood supply to important organs in the body, known as “target organs”. This can result in a heart attack, and eventually heart failure.
Hypertension can also lead to stroke, cognitive impairment, dementia, kidney failure, and even premature death.
Hypertension – The Silent Killer
A person with hypertension may look well, feel well, and normally won’t have any symptoms, so it often goes unnoticed. The only way to know if you have hypertension is to measure your blood pressure level.
There are two numbers that measure the level of blood pressure, one measures the blood pressure when it is at its highest as its squeezed out of the heart ie the Systolic Pressure and the other is the blood pressure at its lowest when it is flowing back to the heart ie the Diastolic Pressure.
The normal level of blood pressure should be 120 mmhg Systolic over 80 mmhg Diastolic, if your systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or higher, or if your diastolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg or higher you technically have Hypertension and it is recommended that you seek treatment from your doctor.
What is the solution?
Treatment of hypertension normally includes pursuing a healthier lifestyle and monitoring blood pressure closely, sometimes in conjunction with taking medications prescribed by a doctor.
Use of a home blood pressure monitor is recommended so that blood pressure can be measured during the day at various times.
Medicare Lifesense BPM range
Medicare’s range of blood pressure monitors (BPMs) enables you to read your blood pressure anytime & anywhere. The BPMs in this range have the facility to upload data to the Medicare Lifesense App which saves all blood pressure readings & creates an easy to read chart to help visualize long-term progress.
These fantastic products are now available online at
https://www.mcdaidpharmacy.ie/product-category/health/medical-devices/
The range is available in all leading pharmacies nationwide and as part of our Happy Heart monthly promotion, click below for further information.
this article is taken from flemingmedical.ie
Copyright © 2018 Fleming Medical, All rights reserved.
