What is High Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes

High blood pressure (hypertension) leads over time to damage to the arteries that can cause either a blood clot blocking an artery or bleeding from an artery. It is a particular problem when it accompanies diabetes.

It has many causes but obesity, smoking, and heredity can all be factors although most cases have no recognised cause.

Normally high blood pressure (hypertension) is found incidentally and causes no symptoms until the situation has become very serious. It is included here because many complementary medicines are helpful and may lead to a sufficient reduction in blood pressure to allow the sufferer to reduce or stop their prescribed medications.

Associated with and a result of high blood pressure and arterial disease are:-

Heart Attack

Heart attack symptoms include heart pain characterised by a severe crushing central chest pain perhaps with pain radiating down the left arm and physical collapse.

Stroke

Stroke symptoms include weakness or paralysis of one side of the body and perhaps paralysis or weakness of the opposite side of the face.

Gangrene

Gangrene symptoms are caused by blockage of the blood supply to a part of the body usually a limb, which becomes cold, pale and very painful. This is a medical emergency.

Kidney Failure

Kidney failure symptoms are more vague but should include an episode of passing small amounts of urine with some swelling of legs followed by the production of excessive amounts of urine and thirst. This is very variable.

Blood Pressure Monitors

Blood pressure monitors are widely available and can help the sufferer to monitor their own blood pressure at home without needing a medical professional. This has advantages in that the normal stress related blood pressure rise "white coat hypertension" is avoided. Blood pressure monitors can be digital (on the finger), wrist or arm.

Also helpful may be stroke, headache, diabetes, senior care and migraine.