High blood pressure
Over 10% of the population in Israel suffer from Hypertension or, in other words - high blood pressure. Many of them do not know this, so when they eventually ask for a medical treatment it might be already too late. This is why the disease is also known as the "silent killer".
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries during blood flow, it is measured in millimeters of mercury.
High blood pressure develops with age and is affected, among other things, by lifestyle, improper diet, overweight, alcohol consumption and diseases such as diabetes and kidney diseases.
Normal blood pressure values
Normal blood pressure is up to 129 mm Hg. It is measured when the heart muscle contracts and is called systolic blood pressure.
The blood pressure measured at rest of the heart muscle is called diastolic blood pressure and should reach up to 84 mm Hg in healthy people.
Blood pressure that reaches values of 89/139 is considered to be borderline blood pressure, and levels above that point are considered as indicators of high blood pressure.
The heart muscle contracts to pump blood to the various organs of the body. Blood pressure is determined by the force of contraction of the heart muscle, and the elasticity of the arterial blood vessels.
Due to improper nutrition, lack of activity and overweight, atherosclerosis and damage to the walls of blood vessels can develop, causing the walls to harden and lose their elasticity. This phenomenon causes an increase in blood pressure. In this condition the heart exerts more effort to circulate the blood. This continuous exertion weakens the heart muscle and the artery walls. This phenomenon could cause heart failure and an artery rupture, damage to the blood supply to the brain (stroke) and damage to the blood supply to the heart itself (heart attack).
The stated above does not constitute a medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider with any question or concerns you have on your medical condition.
