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High
blood pressure is a medical condition
where the blood pressure is chronically
elevated.
Persistent high blood pressure is one
of the risk factors for
strokes,
heart
attacks and
heart
failure, and is a leading cause of
chronic renal failure.
Often, physical symptoms of high blood
pressure in basic hypertension are not
present and discovered by healthcare
professionals prior to any symptoms being
noticed during a regular checkup.
Blood pressure is a continuous variable, and
risks of various adverse outcomes rise with
it.
Hypertension is usually diagnosed
on finding blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg
measured on both arms on three occasions
over a few weeks. Recently, the JNC VII (The
Seventh Report of the Joint National
Committee on Prevention, Detection,
Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood
Pressure) has defined blood pressure
over 120/80 mmHg and below 140/90 mmHg as "pre-high
blood pressure".
"Pre-high blood
pressure is not a disease category.
Rather, it is a designation chosen to
identify individuals at high risk of
developing high blood pressure (JNC
VII)." Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg.
In
patients with
diabetes
mellitus or kidney disease studies have
shown that blood pressure over 130/80 mmHg
should be considered as High Blood
Pressure and a risk factor, and may
warrant treatment.
Lower your
blood pressure with bitter melon.
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