| In addition to essential hypertension, where
the cause is not known, there is secondary hypertension. That is
when high blood pressure is caused by a disease or other physical
problem. Common causes are kidney or thyroid disease.
A wide range of factors are associated with
high blood pressure. They include genetics, age, race, stress,
obesity, smoking, a high- salt diet, smoking, excessive consumption
of alcohol, and a lifestyle that includes very little exercise. Can
you see that almost everyone could fall into one of those danger
groups?
That is the prime reason regular blood
pressure checks are so important. Only when high blood pressure gets
very severe do symptoms become obvious. Warning signs you must be
aware of can include nosebleeds, racing or irregular heartbeat,
headaches, and dizziness.
You feel great and you have none of the
warning signs, so you have no worry about high blood pressure,
right? Oh no, it's a huge mistake to conclude that you don t have
high blood pressure because you don't have any symptoms you can
identify. The only way you know for sure is to measure your blood
pressure on a regular basis.
Blood pressure machines are very inexpensive
and easy to use. You have no excuse for letting your blood pressure
get out of control. It must be measured regularly.
Take your blood pressure seriously. Allowed to
increase untreated, it can cause some nasty health problems,
including heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and blindness. Just
the thought of those conditions should motivate you to take better
care of your health
Your high blood pressure and high blood
cholesterol are a pair of danger signals that both warn of possible
future heart problems. Remember, we are talking about a silent
killer. You will not be able to tell if you have either high blood
pressure or high blood cholesterol without measuring or medical
examination. Your blood pressure and blood must be tested. Both
measurements are done routinely if you have regular health
check-ups.
A blood pressure machine is as close as your
nearest pharmacy or Wal-Mart. Blood pressure and cholesterol
screenings are often offered at community health centers. Call your
city government office for information.
Now is the time to go to war against the
silent killer. You can successfully attack high blood pressure with
regular blood pressure readings. Remember, in this battle you are an
army of one. You must take action to save yourself.
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