One disease that is common in Nigeria nowadays is high blood pressure (or hypertension). Hypertension is a major problem all over the world. In Nigeria alone, according to statistics, about 1 in 3 adults (above 20 years of age) have High blood pressure.
The Dynamics and Explanation for High Blood Pressure
Basically, blood pressure is the pressure of your blood on the walls of your arteries, as your heart pumps it around your body. It is essentially vital to how your heart and circulation works.
Generally, the heart pumps blood into blood vessels which carry the blood throughout the body. In simple terms, blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood out to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, to stroke, kidney disease, and to heart failure.
Normally, a human's blood pressure naturally regulates itself all the time, adjusting to the heart's needs. However, abnormally sets it when the blood pressure is persistently higher than normal.
A blood pressure reading under 120/80 mmHg is considered normal and optimal. For most adults, high blood pressure is present if the resting blood pressure is persistently at or above 130/80 or 140/90 mmHg.
Blood pressure that is persistently high over a long period of time is one of the main causes of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, vision loss, chronic kidyney failure and dementia. The chances of high blood pressure increases with age.
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Hypertension results from a complex interaction of genes and environmental factors. The environmental factors include
1. High salt intake
2. Lack of excercise
3. Obesity (when an individual is too fat)
4. Smoking
5. Stress or anxiety
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