BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60–70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Blood pressure readings are given in two numbers, such as 120/80, which is considered as the average BP reading for adults. However, a slightly higher or lower reading (for either number) is not necessarily abnormal. High blood pressure usually does not has any symptoms and is therefore called a silent killer. Most people may not know they have it until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. In many seniors with high blood pressure, a single specific cause is not known. This is called essential or primary high blood pressure. In some people, high blood pressure is the result of another medical problem or medicine. When the cause is known, this is called secondary high blood pressure. Risk factors for high blood that caregivers can watch for include: • Overweight • A family history of high blood pressure • Pre-hypertension (that is, blood pressure in the 120–139/80–89 mmHg range) • Men over age 45 • Women over 55 • Other things that can raise blood pressure include: • Eating too much salt • Drinking too much alcohol • Not getting enough potassium in your diet • Not doing enough physical activity • Taking certain medicines • Having long-lasting stress • Smoking (smoking can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure) High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can result into: • Having a stroke • Developing kidney damage • Heart disease and many other serious health problems. • Dizziness • Faint and may consequently fall and incur an injury • When the kidneys don’t function properly, you may excrete too much calcium in your urine. If not enough calcium remains in circulation for your bones, bone density decreases, increasing your risk for osteoporosis. Bones become weak, brittle, and more prone to fractures and breaks. • Stressed Out Arteries and Blood Vessels If you have high blood pressure, your healthcare professional will recommend that you • lower the amount of salt in your diet, • take more exercise, • stop smoking if you smoke, • lose weight if you are overweight • eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products • Limiting alcohol intake • If these measures do not work well enough, might also suggest that you take certain medications to lower your blood pressure to a safe level. Blood pressure medications should be started slowly in older people and increased gradually, to avoid any sudden drop in blood pressure levels. Medicines will control blood pressure, but they cannot cure it. Your elderly will need to take blood pressure medicine for a long time. For more tips log on to our website http://oldagesolutions.org