Blood Pressure Health 101

Your heart pumps blood throughout your body using a network of tubing
called arteries and capillaries which return the blood back to your heart via
your veins. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls
of your arteries as your heart beats.
There are two types of high blood pressure, primary hypertension and
secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension accounts for 95% of
hypertension and has several contributing factors. Secondary hypertension
occurs when there is a malfunction in one of the body's organs or systems.
Primary (or essential) hypertension can be attributed to a variety of factors.
Roughly 30% of cases can be attributed to genetic factors. For example, high
blood pressure affects more African-Americans than Asians or Caucasians. In
addition, there can be a hereditary factor. You're twice as likely to suffer from
high blood pressure if either of your parents had it.


Can Anxiety Affect Your Blood Pressure?
As we briefly mentioned above, assessing your blood pressure readings can be
trickier than it might at first appear. It’s the numerous variables that come
into play that make it so tricky. In order for your doctor to gain a complete
picture of your specific situation, he needs to be aware of the impact these
variables may be having on your system.
Here's a short list of factors that can affect your blood pressure reading:
· Your Emotional State
· Exercise
· Respiration
· A Recent Heavy Meal
· Smoking
· Your Alcohol Intake
· The Room Temperature
· Pain
· Bladder Problems
· Circadian Rhythms
· Your Age
· Your Gender
· Your Race
As surprising as it might sound, anxiety can raise your blood pressure by as
much as 30mm Hg. Even anxiousness about visiting the doctor or about how
well you'll do when he takes your blood pressure can cause an instinctual fight
or flight response that raises your blood pressure. The more anxious you are,
the greater the impact on your readings.
So always keep in mind that you should be relaxed and comfortable when your
blood pressure is taken. If you have the opportunity to sit in a quiet room, at a
comfortable room temperature, and maybe thumb through a favorite magazine
beforehand, take advantage of this opportunity to settle down and put aside
your fears. You want your doctor to have the best information possible before
prescribing any medication, and the best way to make sure your blood
pressure readings are accurate is to put aside your anxieties.
The more comfortable you are with your surroundings and with the person
taking your blood pressure, the more accurate your readings. In fact, it's been
found that your blood pressure measurements are generally higher when taken
by your doctor, and to a lesser degree, even your nurse. This is known as the
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"white coat syndrome" and it's something to be aware of next time you go to see
the doctor.
You should also be aware of your respiration and pulse rate since both can
affect your blood pressure reading. If you had to climb a set of stairs to get to
your doctor's office and your heart is racing, make sure you have at least
fifteen minutes to relax and settle back into a comfortable resting pulse rate
before your blood pressure is checked.
Finally, learn as much about your blood pressure as you can ahead of time.
This will generally put your fears to rest. And if you have any questions or
concerns, ask your doctor. He should be able to give you a thorough
explanation of how your blood pressure works and how it might or might not
affect any existing medical conditions you may have...