High Blood Pressure Archives

Prevent a heart attack from severely crippling you, leaving you hospitalized, or worse. Your ability to recognize when you may be having a heart attack or suffering from congestive heart failure can get you to appropriate medical attention before your heart simply stops.

yourfootpalace.com gathered the following information about 7 signs that suggest heart trouble and the need to seek immediate medical attention.

Signs of a Heart Attack

A heart attack or myocardial infarction is the damaging or death of an area of the heart muscle (myocardium) resulting from a blocked blood supply to that area. You may be on the path to heart failure without realizing it or recognizing a buildup of acute symptoms. The following are signs that you may be in danger of suffering a myocardial infarction.

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort – The vast majority of heart attacks will involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or dissipates and comes back. The discomfort can resemble uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

2. Pain or Discomfort in the neck, jaw, or back – If you are experiencing unrelenting jaw pain (not tooth discomfort), you must seek urgent medical attention. This may indicate the onset of a heart attack. Jaw pain can occur as pain travels or spreads from the chest to other areas of the body. This radiating pain may also be felt in your spine, arms, back (usually a persistent radiating pain in the upper left of your back), neck, or stomach.

3. Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) – Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, can sometimes result from strenuous exercise or severe nasal congestion. It may also indicate a more serious heart condition or lung disease.

Note: Your shortness of breath may be a symptom of heart disease or the onset of a heart attack (in this case, shortness of breath may be accompanied by edema swelling of the feet/ankles).

Tip: If you experience severe difficulty breathing suddenly or it is accompanied by chest pain, immediately call 9-1-1 for assistance.

4. Cold Sweats – Cold sweats can be caused by multiple conditions. They’re often associated with your body’s “fight or flight” response. A cold sweat is a clear sign of sudden and significant stress, which could be either physical or psychological. Often, it is a combination of the two.

When cold sweats are related to heart failure, know that pumping blood through obstructed or blocked arteries takes more effort from your heart. Your body sweats more in an attempt to maintain a lower body temperature during the extra physical exertion.

5. Lightheadedness – In addition to experiencing other symptoms like chest pressure or shortness of breath, you may feel dizzy or feel like you may pass out.

Note: If you take medication to control your blood pressure, this vertigo-like sensation may be the result of your body’s adjustment to the medication or a rapid drop in blood pressure.

Tip: If this condition occurs suddenly or repeatedly, contact your primary care physician immediately for instruction. If this condition is accompanied by other symptoms, call 9-1-1 for immediate medical help.

6. Heart Palpitations – When nearing or suffering a heart attack, you may feel as if your heart is skipping beats, or you may be very aware (with a heightened sensation) that your heart is beating.

7. Nausea and Vomiting – After eating or suddenly, you may feel sick to your stomach or randomly vomit. You may have these symptoms while leading up to or while suffering a heart attack.

Surviving a Heart Attack

Most heart attack survivors have coronary artery disease (CAD) and must make important lifestyle changes. There is a significant likelihood that a heart attack survivor will require daily medication (some temporary and some for the rest of your life) to prevent a future heart attack. Observe the following:

Go to all scheduled medical follow-ups and explain any odd feelings or sensations.
Adhere to prescribed medications and only alter or halt that prescription with your doctor’s consent.
Track your weight daily (a gain of 2Lbs in one day or 5Lbs in one week is an indication that you are retaining water)
Take daily blood pressure readings (120 systolic over 80 diastolic with a heart rate of 60 beats per minute is optimal for good health). Variations of these measurements should be discussed with your primary care physician. Read this article on ways to lower your blood pressure.
Exercise daily (your heart is a muscle, and exercising it with cardio routines will help strengthen it)
Change your diet to a cardio-friendly menu. Visit this menu for heart-healthy eating mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-healthy-diet/art-20046702
Treat yourself to frequent get-aways or spa days.
Avoid stressful situations or work conditions.

Note: Your heart condition may be hereditary. Even so, it may still be controlled or avoided through a healthy lifestyle, moderation, and doctor supervision.

Recognizing the Signs of a Heart Attack

In this article, you discovered essential information about the signs of myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, what to do if you experience these signs, and what to do after such an event.

Time is everything when a heart attack happens. The ability to recognize that you are in trouble and get appropriate medical attention can prevent severe disability or even death.

Avoiding the symptoms of a heart attack may cause you to lose your cognitive abilities, your mobility, and can ultimately cost you your life.

Disclaimer

This article is in no way meant to diagnose or offer treatment for any heart failure or heart attack symptoms you may be experiencing. If you develop or already feel any of the symptoms cited in this article, you are strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention and if you have become incapacitated, suffered the loss of feeling/movement in your left arm or leg, or are experiencing severe (crushing) pain in your chest, immediately call 9-1-1 for instruction and medical assistance.

Sources:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106
cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm
heart.org/en/about-us/heart-attack-and-stroke-symptoms
hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/conditions_treatments/conditions/shortness_breath.html
texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/heart-attack-warning-signs/

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High blood pressure and hypertension develop over time from a combination of eating habits, lifestyle, your age, and in many cases genetics. Yes, you can inherit this.

The dangers of allowing high blood pressure to persist cannot be overstated. A wide variety of potentially serious health risks – including sudden death – are related to high blood pressure and hypertension.

In this article, the team at Foot Palace compiled extensive and important information about the definition, causes, potential hazards, and ways to control high blood pressure.

Hypertension Definition and High Blood Pressure

For the general population, hypertension and high blood pressure are one and the same. It is a logical assumption as those with hypertension have high blood pressure. However, if you have high blood pressure, that does not necessarily mean you have hypertension. Let’s shed light and differentiate the two:

High Blood Pressure – This is a symptom occurring when the systolic BP reading is above 140 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) and the diastolic BP reading is above 90 mmHg.

A high BP reading is often an acute symptom of stress, anxiety, or other external factors.

Hypertension – When a person’s blood pressure is consistently or chronically elevated, it may be diagnosed as hypertension.

By definition, hypertension is a medical condition of the cardiovascular system characterized by long-lasting elevated blood pressure.

According to the Mayo Clinic,

“High blood pressure (hypertension) can quietly damage your body for years before symptoms develop. Left uncontrolled, you may wind up with a disability, a poor quality of life or even a fatal heart attack. Roughly half the people with untreated hypertension die of heart disease related to poor blood flow (ischemic heart disease) and another third die of stroke.”

Hypertension potentially leads to:

Heart and artery damage
Heart disease
Stroke
Aneurysms
Enlarged left heart
Heart failure
Heart attack
Stroke
Dementia
Kidney failure
Optic neuropathy (eye nerve damage)
Bone loss
Sexual dysfunction

Given hypertension can exist quietly, it can progress to advanced stages quickly.

The Stages of Hypertension

Being diagnosed with anything can be a traumatizing experience, especially when “stage 2” is attached to it. When it comes to hypertension, be aware that there are four stages, and higher numbers indicate a more advanced and critical condition:

STAGE 1 Hypertension – Prehypertension is from 120/80 to 139/89

STAGE 2 Hypertension – Mild Hypertension is from 140/90 to 159/99

STAGE 3 Hypertension – Moderate Hypertension is from 160/100 to 179/109

STAGE 4 Hypertension – Severe Hypertension is 180/110 or higher

If your blood pressure is in the prehypertension range, it is likely that you will end up with chronic high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it.

Without taking action and making significant changes, stage 2 hypertension may quickly develop into a stage 3 or stage 4 condition.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

If you are one of the many who wait until symptoms start popping up to take corrective measures, you may be in for a surprise when it comes to high blood pressure and hypertension. The following excerpt is from the American Heart Association:

“Looking for a list of symptoms? If you are looking for a list of symptoms and signs of high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension), you won’t find them here. This is because most of the time, there are none.

Myth: People with high blood pressure will experience symptoms, like nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing.

Truth: High blood pressure is a largely symptomless “silent killer.” If you ignore your blood pressure because you think a certain symptom or sign will alert you to the problem, you are taking a dangerous chance with your life.”

Hypertension Treatment – How to Lower Blood Pressure in 8 Ways

Once you’ve been diagnosed with any of the four stages of hypertension, you may need to take a close look at your lifestyle, eating habits, and external stressors.

Through substantive changes, constant vigilance, and possible medical assistance, it is possible to lower your blood pressure and keep it under control.

The following activities or a combination of them may result in the lowering of your chronic high blood pressure.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight – Your weight is a factor that heavily influences your blood pressure; this body mass index (BMI) calculator will help you assess your current situation and determine your ideal weight target.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

“People who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Anyone who is overweight should try to avoid gaining additional weight. Additionally, if you are overweight with other risk factors (such as high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high blood pressure), you should try to lose weight. Even a small weight loss (just 10% of your current weight) may help lower the risk of disease.”

2. Quit Smoking – There is no healthy amount of tobacco consumption. For those with hypertension, cessation is considered one of the best things (treatments) that can be done.

According to the American Cancer Society:

“The US Surgeon General has said, “Smoking cessation [stopping smoking] represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives.” It’s hard to quit smoking, but you can do it.”

The American Cancer Society has a help page on “How to Quit Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco”.

3. Reduce and Limit Alcohol Consumption – For those that consume alcohol, limiting it to one drink a day for women and two per day for men has the potential to lower your blood pressure by approximately 4 mmHg.

1 drink is the equivalent of a 12 ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Be cautioned that consuming more than moderate amounts of alcohol may potentially interfere with blood pressure medications or cause a several point rise in your blood pressure.

4. Exercise or Increase Physical Activities – 30 minutes of regular exercise 5 days per week can potentially lower your blood pressure by 5 to 8 mmHg. Consistency is a key factor with exercise, if you simply stop exercising, your blood pressure will likely rise again.

Aerobic exercises that may lower your blood pressure include walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming. Consult your doctor about developing an appropriate exercise regiment for your particular situation.

5. Develop Better Eating Habits – A diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, but rich in whole grains, fruits, and low fat dairy can potentially lower your blood pressure up to 11 mmHg.

While the effect of sodium intake on blood pressure varies among groups of people, even a slight reduction can lead to a reduction of up to 5 to 6 mmHg. For most adults, the lower the intake, the better – 1,500mg per day or less.

6. Schedule Spa Days and Massages – Reduce stress by making time for enjoyable activities such as taking a spa day or making it a couples massage with a loved one.

The following is taken from a study by the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine:

“Massage is a safe, non invasive, and soothing treatment for hypertension, particularly for people that experience stress on a frequent basis. If treated regularly, massage patients demonstrate long term improvement in stress levels and heart rate.”

Lowering your blood pressure may require medical assistance, and if so, these are potential solutions:

7. ACE Inhibitors – Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors) are a category of medications that slow the activity of the enzyme ACE, which in turn decreases the production of angiotensin II.

This results in the enlarging or dilation of blood vessels which results in the lowering of blood pressure.

8. Diuretics – In cases where ACE Inhibitors aren’t enough to reduce high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a diuretic to be taken with the ACE Inhibitor. Diuretics remove salt and excess water or fluid from the body. Lower fluid levels means less blood volume, thus a lowered blood pressure.

Monitoring Blood Pressure and the Best Devices

Besides regular visits to your doctor, there are several ways you can monitor your blood pressure. This will help you track your progress, and help your doctor make or suggest alterations in you’re prescribed treatment(s).

Blood Pressure Monitor – Visit your local pharmacy. They will likely carry a variety of BP monitors for you to choose from.

There are those that come with an arm sleeve, ones that go around your wrist, and some that attach to your finger. Nearly all of them are battery operated with a digital readout and work with the push of a button.

Smart Watches – While most smart watches will only track your heart rate, there are some that will also take your blood pressure. Watch the following video to see how this works.

Blood Pressure App – If you search “blood pressure” in your app store (on your Mobile device), there will be a series of apps to help monitor blood pressure, weight, pulse, heart rate, etc.

Choose one that fits your needs and install it. Most of them will keep running records and help you gage your progress.

It is suggested you create a journal, or find a downloadable chart and track your blood pressure on a daily basis. Staying aware of your numbers and which efforts are impacting your numbers is great information on the road to improve your blood pressure.

Keeping Blood Pressure Under Control

Knowing that there is a blood pressure problem is the first key to solving it. Once you have determined contributing factors to your situation, the responsibility is ultimately yours to make the necessary lifestyle changes.

Implementing and being consistent in the above suggestions may improve your condition and lead to quantifiable results. These results are needed for to get your BP under control and maintain it.

As with most other illness, the stages of hypertension can be managed through the consistent management of your diet, exercise, habits, weight, and stress. In the case of hypertension, these actions are beneficial and may result in a longer, better quality life.

Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/bodyweight.html
http://vascularcures.org/high-blood-pressure-and-vascular-disease/
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking.html
https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2015/01/24/benefits-massage-hypertension