Stroke and hypertension
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force your blood exerts on blood vessel walls as it travels through your body.
Your blood pressure reading is expressed with 2 numbers, for example 120/80. The first number, known as systolic blood pressure, represents the force your blood exerts on blood vessel walls as your heart pumps.
The second number, known as diastolic blood pressure, represents the force your blood exerts on blood vessel walls when your heart is at rest between beats.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is medically known as hypertension and is a term used to describe blood pressure which is consistently higher than 140/90.
High blood pressure as a risk factor for stroke
High blood pressure is the most important known risk factor for stroke. Among its many harmful effects high blood pressure puts unnecessary stress on blood vessel walls causing the blood vessel to thicken and break down, eventually leading to a stroke. It can also accelerate several common forms of heart disease which can also lead to stroke.
High blood pressure can also cause clots or plaque (cholesterol and other fat-like substances) to break off artery walls and block a brain artery causing a stroke. In rare cases hypertension can cause a haemorrhagic stroke in people who were born with irregular formation of the blood vessel walls in the brain.
The danger of high blood pressure
Doctors have long called high blood pressure the silent killer, because sufferers can have high blood pressure yet display no symptoms. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.
What causes high blood pressure?
In most cases, it's impossible to pinpoint an exact cause. However, there are a number of risk factors that have been linked to high blood pressure. These include:
- a family history of high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack;
- age — the occurrence of high blood pressure rises as people get older;
- gender — men are more likely to have high blood pressure than women;
- excess weight;
- excessive alcohol drinking;
- diabetes;
- lack of exercise;
- smoking; and
- excessive salt intake.
Controlling high blood pressure
High blood pressure can be controlled in most people by a combination of diet, exercise and medication. A diet low in salt, fat and high in fresh fruit and vegetables, along with regular exercise (approved by your doctor), can aid in weight loss and help lower blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce your blood pressure. There are many blood pressure medications and your doctor may need to increase the dose or use these medications in combination to effectively reduce your blood pressure.
Your doctor can talk to you about your blood pressure and risk of stroke and recommend treatment if required.
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