With each pump of the heart, blood is moved through the arteries and the blood presses against the walls of the blood vessels. For those who suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension), this pressure is high to an unhealthy level.
When blood pressure is too high, the heart is forced to work harder in order to pump enough blood to all of the tissues of the body. If not brought back down to a healthy level, kidney failure, heart failure, and stroke may ensue. High blood pressure is also associated with other negative cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, erectile difficulty, obesity, and adrenal tumors.
Physicians use a tool called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is measured as a pair of numbers. The first number is the systolic pressure which represents the pressure caused by the blood when the heart beats which forces blood into the blood vessels. The second number is the diastolic pressure which measures the rest between beats of the heart. Today, physicians recognize consistent readings above 120/80 as high blood pressure.
Upon diagnoses, physicians typically recommend diet changes, exercise, and usually medication. There are also many natural high blood pressure remedies that are gaining in popularity. These usually include dietary supplements along with diet and an exercise program.
