High Blood Pressure------Henry

In the article ''  Hypertension ''from Wikipedia,the author gives us some information about High Blood Pressure.High Blood Pressure is also called Hypertension (HTN). HTN is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Blood pressure is summarised by two measurements,systolic and diastolic. This equals the maximum and minimum pressure, respectively. Normal blood pressure at rest is within the range of 100–140mmHg systolic (top reading) and 60–90mmHg diastolic (bottom reading). High blood pressure is said to be present if it is often at or above 140/90 mmHg.

High blood  pressure can be classified as either primary (essential) hypertension or secondary hypertensionThe remaining 5–10% of cases (secondary hypertension) are caused by other conditions that affect the kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine system.

Hypertension puts strain on the heart, leading to hypertensive heart disease and coronary artery disease if not treated.

 Hypertension is also a major risk factor for stroke, aneurysms of the arteries (e.g. aortic aneurysm), peripheral arterial disease and is a cause of chronic kidney disease. 

Cause

•  blood pressure rises with aging and the risk of becoming hypertensive in later life is considerable.

•  Hypertension results from a complex interaction of genes and environmental factors.
•  Lifestyle factors that lower blood pressure include reduced dietary salt intake,^[
•  Stress appears to play a minor role^[3] with specificrelaxation techniques not supported by the evidence.
• Recent studies have also implicated events in early life (for example low birth weight, maternal smoking and lack of breast feeding) as risk factors for adult essential hypertension,^[26] although the mechanisms linking these exposures to adult hypertension remain obscure.
• Hypertension can also be caused by endocrine conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, acromegaly, Conn's syndrome or hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidismand pheochromocytoma.^[5][27] Other causes of secondary hypertension include obesity, sleep apnea, pregnancy, coarctation of the aorta, excessive liquorice consumption and certain prescription medicines, herbal remedies and illegal drugs.

Research

Selective radiofrequency ablation of the nerves supplying the kidneys, which employs a catheter-based device to cause thermal injury to the nerves surrounding the renal artery without affecting other sympathetic nerves, may lower blood pressure.