Transient elevations in systolic blood pressure occur as normal adaptations during fever, physical exertion, and emotional disturbances such as anger and fear. Persistent hypertension, or high blood pressure, is common in obese individuals because the total length of blood vessels is relatively larger than in lean individuals.

        Although hypertension is typically asymptomatic for the primary ten to twenty years, it slowly but surely puts a strain on the guts and damages the arteries. This is why hypertension is often referred to as the "silent killer." Prolonged hypertension accelerates arteriosclerosis and is a major cause of heart failure, vascular disease, kidney failure, and stroke. As the heart is forced to pump against greater resistance, it´s to figure harder, and over time the myocardium enlarges. When it finally gets beyond its capacity to respond, the heart weakens and its walls loosen. Advanced warning signs include headache, sweating, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and visual disturbances.

        The systolic or pumping pressure, the higher of the two in a healthy adult, is normally around 120 and the lower diastolic is about 70, normally expressed as 120/70. 130/80 is the average for a 40-year-old male, 117/75 for a 40-year-old female. Hypertension is physiologically defined as a state of consistently high arterial pressure of 140/90 or higher (dangerously high), and the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk for serious cardiovascular problems. As a rule, higher diastolic pressures are more medically important because they always indicate progressive occlusion and/or hardening of the arterial tree.

        About 90% of hypertensive people have primary or essential hypertension for which an underlying cause has not been determined by their doctor. The following factors are believed to play a role:

1. Diet: Dietary factors that contribute to hypertension include excessive intake of table salt, saturated fat and cholesterol, and deficiencies in certain metal ions (Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium).

2. Obesity: In obese patients, the probability of observing hypertension is 3 times higher. Framingham study data also reports that 70% of hypertensive men and more than 60% of women are obese. According to the results of the same study, the probability of hypertension is increased 8 times above the ideal weight 20%.

3. Age: Clinical manifestations of the disease usually appear after the age of 40.

4. Race: More blacks than whites are hypertensive, and the course of the disease also differs in different population groups.

5. Inheritance: Hypertension runs in families. Children of hypertensive parents are twice as likely to develop hypertension than children of normotensive parents.

6. Stress: Particularly at risk are "hot reactors", that is, people whose blood pressure rises during each stressful event.

7. Smoking:  Nicotine enhances the vasoconstrictor effects of the sympathetic nervous system.

        More than 35 million Americans are estimated to have hypertension. In the vast majority of cases, the cause of the high pressure is unknown. Doctors ask this commonest sort of the disease as primary or hyperpiesia . However, there are some unusual circumstances where high blood pressure can be caused by kidney disease, tumor, or other identifiable cause. This is known as secondary hypertension, and treating the underlying cause usually cures high blood pressure.

        While the explanation for primary hypertension is unknown, variety of things appear to extend the danger of developing it. These include a family history of high blood pressure or early stroke, smoking, obesity, and excessive salt intake. Changing or avoiding these risk factors will not necessarily prevent hypertension, but they are all thought to play a role. Reducing salt intake, quitting smoking, or losing weight may be enough to prevent borderline high blood pressure from developing into overt hypertension. This is especially true for adolescents or young adults whose blood pressure may be at the upper end of the normal range.

        High blood pressure is the most common serious illness in the United States. However, once diagnosed, most cases can be managed through the use of antihypertensive medications and, where appropriate, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or losing excess weight. Treatment is usually lifelong, but if high blood pressure is brought down to normal and kept there, the patient can expect to lead a normal life without major interference with their daily activities.

        Exercise is very important in the treatment of hypertension. Aerobic exercise will benefit the cardiovascular system and should be done regularly. If you have not exercised before or are very fit, it is recommended that you see a qualified healthcare professional who can design a safe program for you to follow. You can overdo it, so be careful! Ideally, you want to do it 3 times a week, for at least 20-30 minutes. You want to exercise to keep your heart rate at 60% of maximum. Subtract your age from 220 to calculate your maximum pulse. This is your maximum heart rate. Multiply the number by 0.6 to get 60% of your maximum heart rate. This is the heart rate you want to target and maintain while exercising aerobically.