{"product_id":"2940014007993","title":"Blood Pressure Health 101","description":"Your heart pumps blood throughout your body using a network of tubing\u003cbr\u003ecalled arteries and capillaries which return the blood back to your heart via\u003cbr\u003eyour veins. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls\u003cbr\u003eof your arteries as your heart beats.\u003cbr\u003eThere are two types of high blood pressure, primary hypertension and\u003cbr\u003esecondary hypertension. Primary hypertension accounts for 95% of\u003cbr\u003ehypertension and has several contributing factors. Secondary hypertension\u003cbr\u003eoccurs when there is a malfunction in one of the body's organs or systems.\u003cbr\u003ePrimary (or essential) hypertension can be attributed to a variety of factors.\u003cbr\u003eRoughly 30% of cases can be attributed to genetic factors. For example, high\u003cbr\u003eblood pressure affects more African-Americans than Asians or Caucasians. In\u003cbr\u003eaddition, there can be a hereditary factor. You're twice as likely to suffer from\u003cbr\u003ehigh blood pressure if either of your parents had it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCan Anxiety Affect Your Blood Pressure?\u003cbr\u003eAs we briefly mentioned above, assessing your blood pressure readings can be\u003cbr\u003etrickier than it might at first appear. It’s the numerous variables that come\u003cbr\u003einto play that make it so tricky. In order for your doctor to gain a complete\u003cbr\u003epicture of your specific situation, he needs to be aware of the impact these\u003cbr\u003evariables may be having on your system.\u003cbr\u003eHere's a short list of factors that can affect your blood pressure reading:\u003cbr\u003e· Your Emotional State\u003cbr\u003e· Exercise\u003cbr\u003e· Respiration\u003cbr\u003e· A Recent Heavy Meal\u003cbr\u003e· Smoking\u003cbr\u003e· Your Alcohol Intake\u003cbr\u003e· The Room Temperature\u003cbr\u003e· Pain\u003cbr\u003e· Bladder Problems\u003cbr\u003e· Circadian Rhythms\u003cbr\u003e· Your Age\u003cbr\u003e· Your Gender\u003cbr\u003e· Your Race\u003cbr\u003eAs surprising as it might sound, anxiety can raise your blood pressure by as\u003cbr\u003emuch as 30mm Hg. Even anxiousness about visiting the doctor or about how\u003cbr\u003ewell you'll do when he takes your blood pressure can cause an instinctual fight\u003cbr\u003eor flight response that raises your blood pressure. The more anxious you are,\u003cbr\u003ethe greater the impact on your readings.\u003cbr\u003eSo always keep in mind that you should be relaxed and comfortable when your\u003cbr\u003eblood pressure is taken. If you have the opportunity to sit in a quiet room, at a\u003cbr\u003ecomfortable room temperature, and maybe thumb through a favorite magazine\u003cbr\u003ebeforehand, take advantage of this opportunity to settle down and put aside\u003cbr\u003eyour fears. You want your doctor to have the best information possible before\u003cbr\u003eprescribing any medication, and the best way to make sure your blood\u003cbr\u003epressure readings are accurate is to put aside your anxieties.\u003cbr\u003eThe more comfortable you are with your surroundings and with the person\u003cbr\u003etaking your blood pressure, the more accurate your readings. In fact, it's been\u003cbr\u003efound that your blood pressure measurements are generally higher when taken\u003cbr\u003eby your doctor, and to a lesser degree, even your nurse. This is known as the\u003cbr\u003e7\u003cbr\u003e\"white coat syndrome\" and it's something to be aware of next time you go to see\u003cbr\u003ethe doctor.\u003cbr\u003eYou should also be aware of your respiration and pulse rate since both can\u003cbr\u003eaffect your blood pressure reading. If you had to climb a set of stairs to get to\u003cbr\u003eyour doctor's office and your heart is racing, make sure you have at least\u003cbr\u003efifteen minutes to relax and settle back into a comfortable resting pulse rate\u003cbr\u003ebefore your blood pressure is checked.\u003cbr\u003eFinally, learn as much about your blood pressure as you can ahead of time.\u003cbr\u003eThis will generally put your fears to rest. And if you have any questions or\u003cbr\u003econcerns, ask your doctor. He should be able to give you a thorough\u003cbr\u003eexplanation of how your blood pressure works and how it might or might not\u003cbr\u003eaffect any existing medical conditions you may have...","brand":"Altantic eBooks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47079821410544,"sku":"2940014007993","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940014007993_p0.jpg?v=1763598912","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940014007993","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}