Dangers of High Blood Pressure – Best Chiropractors in Springfield Missouri

Dangers of High Blood Pressure - Best Chiropractors in Springfield Missouri

Dangers Of High Blood Pressure

After taking an appropriate medical case history of a new patient, the next step in our chiropractic clinic is to perform an examination which includes taking the patient’s blood pressure. High blood pressure exists when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels is consistently too high.

Your red blood cells carry the oxygen your tissues and organs need for survival inside of your circulatory system. With each beat of your heart, pressure is created that pushes the blood through the arteries, veins and capillaries. This pressure is the result of two forces. The first force (systolic pressure) occurs as the blood is pumped out of the heart and into the arteries. The second force (diastolic pressure) is the pressure that exists as the heart is resting between the heart beats.

Most people who have high blood pressure do not have symptoms. However, in some cases, people with high blood pressure may have a pounding feeling in their head or chest. It is common to experience a feeling of lightheadedness, dizziness, visual blurring or other signs. It is important to monitor your blood pressure as a part of managing your overall health.

If you have high blood pressure, this higher than normal pressure puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. With time, this extra strain can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure can also cause heart and kidney disease and is closely linked to some forms of dementia.

More than 80 million Americans have high blood pressure, and as many as 16 million of them do not know they have the condition. Pressure inside your arteries can cause the muscles that line the walls of the arteries to thicken, effectively narrowing the passage. A heart attack or stroke can occur if a blood clot blocks the blood flow and oxygen to your heart or brain.

Additionally, high blood pressure increases the amount of work for your heart. With the over exercised heart, the heart grows larger like any other muscle. This puts more demands for oxygen rich blood but it becomes less able to maintain proper blood flow.

Many factors contribute to high blood pressure, including family history, gender, men are at greater risk than women. However, women are at increased risk after age 55. High levels of stress and obesity. We all know the dangers of use of tobacco products. Use of oral contraceptives especially with women who smoke. Diets high in saturated fat and sodium. Excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity and diabetes predispose one to high blood pressure.

We believe it’s important for the best chiropractors in Springfield Missouri to discuss all aspects of a patient’s health including high blood pressure. A lifestyle that includes a rational diet, exercise and ample amounts of water can protect us from many of the most common health maladies.