Blood Pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it refers to High Blood Pressure. This may damage the body in many ways. High Blood Pressure as such has no symptoms all the while it may lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and many other health problems.

On an average every one out of three suffers from high blood pressure. That is why knowing your blood pressure numbers is important, even when you’re feeling fine. Blood pressure numbers include systolic and diastolic pressures. The former is the pressure while the heart pumps blood and the later is the pressure while the heart is at rest.

You will most often see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above or before the diastolic, such as 120/80 mmHg. (The mmHg is millimeters of mercury—the units used to measure blood pressure.). 120/80 mmHg, is the normal pressure found in the adult.

Causes for High Blood Pressure:

Generally Blood Pressure tends to rise with age but there are some other conditions which may lead to increase the blood Pressure.

• Chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, and sleep arena may lead to increase in Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure may increase in women if they use birth control pills
• Obese people tend to have High Blood Pressure.(HBP)
• Long lasting stress will lead to HBP.
• A family history of HBP raises your risk for the condition.
• Unhealthy Life style habits will lead to HBP. It includes  eating too much of Sodium, drinking alcohol,  no physical exercise, smoking etc

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure:

High Blood Pressure as such has no symptoms and signs and it can remain in the body fro longer period with out the individual knowing it and all the while damaging different organs of the body. How ever rarely there is a head ache problem due to High Blood Pressure. So it is always advisable to have your pressure checked regularly.

Effects of High Blood Pressure:

High blood pressure has its main effects on the Nervous system, the Kidneys and the Eyes.

The nervous system: headache, dizziness, stroke, vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Kidneys: hypertension can lead to kidney failure.

Eyes: long-standing high blood pressure can lead to defects of vision, bleeding in the retina of the eye, and eventually blindness.

Treatment of High Blood Pressure:

• Relief of stress brings down the high blood pressure to a considerable level.
• Intake of a balanced diet, helps  to control the High Blood Pressure
• Regular exercise is very helpful in reducing the High Blood Pressure.
• Many drugs and medicines are available in the market which can help you in controlling the high pressure. But these must be taken on the advice of the doctors.

Some herbs help to control the Blood Pressure:

• Garlic: Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. When people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced
• Hawthorn: The herb hawthorn is often used by traditional herbal practitioners for high blood pressure.
• Arjuna: Bark of Arjuna tree has been found to be rich in Co-enzyme Q-10 which is highly prescribed in cardiology departments now a days to prevent heart problems