Julie was all flustered when she ran into her anatomy and physiology lab. She had spilled a cup of coffee on herself while she was weaving in and out of traffic while trying to get around a traffic jam. Then she missed her exit while she was changing the station on the radio, couldn't find a place to park, and missed the lab quiz. The lab today is learning to take blood pressures, and Julies is high!(It's normally 110 over 70.) What is the physiological explanation for Julie's elevated BP? What might be some results of a regularly elevated BP?

Blood Pressure: the force of blood against the walls of blood vessels
Systolic pressure represents the pressure while the heart contracts
Diastolic pressure represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats
Normal blood pressure for adults is 120/80 mmHg

High blood pressure (or hypertension) is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure.

Causes for high BP (which can be changed/controlled):
1) tumors or diseases to do with the adrenal gland
2) narrowing of the aorta
3)Pregnancy
4)Alcohol addiction
5)use of birth control pills
6)Thyroid Dysfunction
Additional causes of high blood pressure are things such as kidney disease or even tumors (like those in the adrenal gland). The only test for high blood pressure is by blood pressure measurement.
7.) Another cause could be the level of stress and nervousness( white coat hypertension.)
8.) Sometimes what you eat and drink can effect your blood pressure. This is why it is best to take your blood pressure right when you wake up.

Causes which cannot be changed:
1)Age: generally among middle-aged and elderly people. When you get older, you develop high blood pressure.
2)Race: African Americans have higher blood pressure then Caucasians
3)Social Economic Status: Poorer/less educated/lower social groups, people usually have higher blood pressure
4)Family History (heredity): high blood pressure runs in the family
5)Gender: Males usually have higher blood pressure

Obese people (are 2-6 times more likely to get high blood pressure than those who are in healthy form) , heavy drinkers, women taking birth control pills, people with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure, too.

Symptoms/Causes:
1)Headaches
2)Dizziness
3)Nausea
4)Fatigue
5)Blurred vision
6)Facial flushing

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, coronary heart disease (which can lead to heart attack), heart failure or kidney failure. Also peripheral artery disease, and aortic aneurysms.



Treatment:
The treatment of high blood pressure is simple, most doctors will ask patients to make changes in their lifestyle. Some changes include: losing weight if you are overweight, following a heart healthy diet, engage in physical activity everyday, limit the amount of sodium consumed, limit alcohol, and quit smoking.

There are also several medications that can treat high blood pressure. These medications include: Diuretics, Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers, Alpha-beta blockers, ACE (angiotention-converting enzyme) inhibitors.

*It is of utmost importance to realize that high blood pressure can be unrecognized for years, causing no symptoms but causing progressive damage to the heart, other organs, and blood vessels.