What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension is defined as an elevated arterial blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg. Blood pressure is a parameter that varies continuosly from individual to individual, similar to parameters like age, weight etc.

There are several factors that predisposes to having a high blood pressure, this includes; Age, weight, ethnic background, diet, lifestyleand a lot more that would still be mentioned in details within the body of this write up.

What different blood pressure values Indicates

  The following are the classification of blood pressure levels according to the British Hypertension Society/WHO and European society of Hypertension:

Less than  120/80 .........................>> Optimal blood pressure

Less than 130/85.......................>> Normal

Between 130-139/85-89.............>> High Normal

140-159/90-99.....................>Mild Hypertension

160-179/100-109...................>>Moderate Hypertension

180/110 and above...................>>Severe hypertension

There can however be an isolated systolic hypertension wherein the systolic blood pressure is high and the diastolic remains normal.If the systolic and diastolic pressures falls into different categories in the classification, then the higher value is taken.

However if you are measuring your blood pressure with a home kit, a BP greater than  135/85 mmHg is diagnostic of hypertension.

Causes of Hypertension

 Majority of hypertension in about 80-90 % of people is due to an unknown cause hence it is called Essential/ primary or idiopathic hypertension

Several facctors however predisposes to development of hypertension, this includes;

1. Genetic Factors : Hypertension tends to run in families

2. Obesity: Fat people tend to have higher blood pressure than thin people

3.Alcohol Intake: Consumption of alcohol predisposes to hypertension

4.Smoking

5.High Salt Intake: Taking diets with high level of salt predisposes to hypertension because salts contains sodium

6. Stress: Excessive stress has been found to trigger hypertension

The other form of hypertension is known as secondary hypertension, this is where blood pressure elevation is the result of a specific and potentially treatable cause.

Some common causes includes:

1. Renal diseases such as chronic glomerulonephritis, renovascular diseases and adult polycystic disease

2. Endocrine causes such as Conn's syndrome, adrenal hyperplasia, cushing syndrome and phaechromocytoma

3.Congenital cardiovascular causes like coarctation of the aorta

4.Pregnancy

5.Drugs such as NSAIDs, oral contraceptives

Management of Hypertension

Once hypertension is diagnosed from consecutive blood pressure measurement, important measures has to be taken to reduce the pressure to a range that is as close to normal as possible, failure of which could lead to several complications such as stroke, damage to the kidney, coronary artery disease and lots more.

It is important to present at the hospital as early as possible, where several investigations will be carried out such as;

ECG 

Urine Stix test for protein and blood

Fasting blood sugar

Serum Electrolyte, Urea and Creatinine

Definitive treatment depends on the severity of the BP measurement, once it is not severe, a period of assessment should be provided during which non-drug measures can be used along with repeated BP measurement.

Some useful ways of managing hypertention without drugs are :

• Weight Reduction : BMI should be < 25kg/m sq.
•  Low fat and saturated fat diet
• Low sodium diet < 6g sodium chloride per day
• Limited alcohol consumption
• Increased fruit and vegetable
• Increase oily fish consumption
• Dynamic exercise, at least 30 minutes brisk work per day
• Quit smoking                                                                                                                                     

   
Drug therapy should usually be initiated after a period  of careful assessment and in severe or malignant hypertension.There are various classes of drugs that can be used, and this i plan to elaborate in future.

Article was written by DR. Adeyinka Adegbosin,  the curator of this blogs, readers feedback are well appreciated, do not hesitate to leave a comment if you find this article useful.

You can invite me to write topics on various health issues for you, i will most likely oblige; send email to chainblogs@gmail.com

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How to increase male potency?

 Thirst for increasing in male potency has risen considerably the last 20 years and today the purchase of any medicaments is as simple as buying a toothpaste. How justified is this availability of medicines and supplements, and doesn't it lead to further complications?

 The problems that cause impotence can be divided into two large groups. In approximately 60% of the cases the disease is associated with functional disorders of the nervous system - stress, depression, increased anxiety, unconscious fears and insomnia. In the others - from organic changes in the mechanism of erection, which could be caused by atherosclerosis, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, spinal injuries, radiation.

 As a result of the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of veins and arteries, the vessels lose their flexibility and elasticity and become brittle and fragile, which decrease blood flow rapidly and leads to malfunction or erection loss. The excessisve use of alcohol, including beer and also smoking further more enhance the male impotence.

 You can solve the problem all by yourself - there are lots of drugs, sold without a prescription, but before walking the way of shame to the pharmacy, you need to fight the false discomfort and consult an urologist, andrologist or psychotherapist. They have the knowledge to determine the causes of the disease and to prescribe the most adequate therapy to deal with erectile dysfunction without any side effects.

 In front of the doctor's office

 A conversation with a doctor should always be honest and frank. The doctor needs to know the details of your erection problem, what changes have occurred compared to your previous sexual potential, what are the current changes in your life, and even whether you have a lover. The doctor should discuss with you the psychological factors associated with the problem, and could put you through a special physiological test for assessment of ejaculation.

Let's take a look at the origin of the problem

Scientists confidently declare that today there are no unsolvable problems with erectile dysfunction.
The usual treatment is drug therapy, physiotherapy and psychotherapy. Some herbal preparations could be prescribed additioanlly: Ginseng, Eleutherococcus, Golden Root, Aral, Pantokrin – these herbs increase the overall body tonus and the intensity of blood flow in the vessels of the penis.

Libido pills / Erection pills

The most effective male potency medicines are known as inhibitors phosphodiesterases of fifth type. Their action is based on the release of the smooth muscles and dilation of blood vessels in the penis during sexual stimulation. The result is increased blood flow and normal hard erection. The effect of the pills starts after 30-40 minutes and lasts at least four hours after assimilation.

Erection occurs only when there is sexual stimulation. The presence of the beloved woman in suitable intimate setting will certainly help for that. But alcohol, especially in large quantities, could affect the erection adversely and abundant fatty food could reduce the efficacy of the drugs.

For greater certainty

Medical sources warn that healthy men should not experiment with drugs for prophylaxis of their sexual function. And when a problem occurs, it is important to stick to the rule of the “golden middle”. If you constantly experiment with your body and force it, sooner or later it will be exhausted and more serious problems could arise. Some scientists claim that the frequent use of pills leads to dependence on psychological level and in this case you won't be able to live and act without them.

But despite this, we all know that drugs make men much stronger and more confident. Everything that's said or written on the topic denying the use of erection pills or other herbal supplements has no enough scientific proofs and every male body reacts differently while taking any medicines. That's why we can conclude that male enhancement treatments are effective but depend on the specific body characteristics and male organism itsself.

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Health Dangers of Smoking

Cigarette smoking is dangerous to the human health,both the active smokers and passive smokers are exposed to considerable risk. It must however be pointed out that the active smokers are exposed to a greater risk.There are millions of active smokers all over the world.Cigarette smoking is common between age 16 and 34.In the UK, at age 15 years more girls (33%) than boys (13%) smoke cigarettes.In the USA only 26% of men and 22% of women smoke.Cigarette consumption is rising in several countries all over the world.  Several active smokers have at one time or the other been informed about the health dangers of smoking, but many find it difficult to quit smoking, due to the addictive effects of nicotine ( A stimulant present in tobacco cigarettes). In a bid to help this category of people, i have added a few Cigarette replacement kit that you can purchase from amazon, and that could gradually help you quit smoking and also make you live a healthier life.

There is however a larger category of  people who do not see any tangible reason to quit smoking, i believe that by highlighting a few of the well proven health hazards associated with smoking, many smokers in this category will see better reasons to quit smoking. Scientific evidences reveals that for every stick of cigarette taken, there is an associated level of health hazard.
  Cigarette smoke contains nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,which are potent carcinogens, and mutagens in animal; they invariably cause cancer, and this partly explains why cigarette smoking is implicated in various kinds of cancer.Lung cancer being the commonest, as a result of the destruction and increase permeability of the lungs to carcinogens.

Smoking causes the following diseases 

Lung cancer

Cancer of the Esophagus

Ischeamic Heart disease which can lead to heart failure

Hypertension

Bladder Cancer

Infertility due to increase in abnormal Spermatozoa

Memory problems

Health dangers of smoking during pregnancy:

Decrease in birth weight of infant

Asthma in the child

 Increase risk of  spontaneous abortion          
 Increase risk of chromosomal abnormalty and deformity in the child
         
        
  Health dangers of inhaling Cigarette smoke( passive smoking)                                                                                                         

 Higher  Risk of having lung cancer
      
 Increase suceptibility to Pneumonia
       
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD)
        
 Bronchiolitis in infants whose parents smoke

If the entire population could be persuaded to stop smoking, the effect on health care use will be enormous.National campaigns, bans on advertising cigarettes and substantial increase in the cost of cigarette are the best way of achieving a reduction in the number of smokers and also to bring about a healthier life globally.
Imagine how healthy the world would be if there aren't smokers ! You just have to quit smoking if you still smoke !!!

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How To Overcome Alcohol Addiction

• KNOW WHEN YOU ARE ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL
• LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME ALCOHOLISM
•  KNOW THE DRUGS USED IN TREATING ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE                                    

Alcohol addiction is medically refered to as dependence.It is often caused by alcohol abuse,a person is said to abuse alcohol when one drinks everyday or drinks excessively at a given time.Alcohol abuse can cause a lot of harms, and could be deemed very costly when it harms a persons relationship,cause a job loss or causes legal problems such as driving while drumk.A person that abuses alcohol continues to drink even  when drinking causes a lot of problems.A diagnosis of alcohol dependence is made when an individual has three of the following symptoms; - You cannot quit or control how much you drink 

-You need to drink more to get the same effect

                                     - You have withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking,this includes nausea,sweating,shakiness and anxiety. 

                                - You spend a lot of time drinking and recovering from drinking.

                     -You have given up other activities so you can drink.

                                           -You have tried to quit or reduce the amount you drink but failed.

                    -You continue to drink even though it harms you.

If you have any 3 of the above, then you are alcohol dependent,this is a chronic disease which has a set of symptoms and also influenced by genes and environmental factors.A standard drink of alcohol is 1 can of beer, 1glass of wine or 1 mixed drink.Any woman that takes more than three drinks at a time or 7 drinks a week is at risk of alcohol abuse.A man that takes more than 4 drinks at a time or more than 14 drinks a week is at risk of alcohol abuse and should see a doctor.There are a few signs of having trouble with alcohol such as: (1). Drinking in the morning,often being drunk for long periods of time (2). Changing what you drink frequently, to achieve been less drunk (3). Feeling guilty after drinking (4).Making excuses for drinking and trying to cover up,such as changing stores where you buy the drinks (5). Not remembering what you did while you were drinking (blackout). (6). Worrying that you wont get enough alcohol for weekend or at party

If you have any of these problems, then you should see a doctor and you can certainly get treated. 

 Management of Alcoholism

A diagnosis is usually made by a physician who takes an history and a mental health assessment, as well as physical examination.Some investigations can be done to access organ function,such as a liver function test. 

In case of a moderate addiction,counselling could be done to get over the addiction.In severe alcohol dependence however,an hospital adission may be required,wherein detoxification is done and drugs are administered.Three different drugs have been approved by the FDA,to reduce alcohol craving,these are:

1. Disulfiram ( Antabuse).

2.Naltrexone (ReVia).

3.Acamprosate which acts by inhibiting GABA 

Read about my friends experience with alcohol and how she was able to stop drinking, visit this link

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New Alzheimer's drug will also be able to cure other degenerative diseases

A research published in the journal of Neuroscience reveals that a pill known as MW151, has the potential to cure multiple neurological conditions,including Alzheimer's disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis.The drug although still in early clinical trials,was able to stop full blown Alzheimer from developing in Mice when given early.The study author Linda Van-Eldik who is the director at University of Kentucky Sandra-Brown center for ageing said "the drug protected against damage associated with learning and impaired memory.Giving the drug before Alzheimer's memory changes are at a late stage may be a future approach to therapy.
Researchers believe Alzheimer's disease is caused in part by inflammation in the brain. MW151 works by blocking the production of signaling molecules called pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can damage the immune system when they are too abundant.

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West Nile Virus Death Now ON A Record High In United States

West Nile viral outbreak this year in the united states  is predicted to be the worst ever recorded.The number of recorded cases of the mosquito borne disease is now about 2,636 up from the 1,993 reported last week.118 people have now died from the disease,40% of the total human cases are from Texas.
So far the disease has been reported in people, birds and mosquitoes in 48 U.S states except Hawaii and Alaska.Scientists have said it is likely that the worst outbreak will occur this year since the disease was first reported in New York in 1999.The worst outbreak so far was recorded in 2002, when there was a record 3,000 cases of severe form of the disease and 284 deaths.
West Nile is a mosquito borne disease, only one in five people infected with the disease report feeling unwell.Those that come down with the mild form of the disease have symptoms like Fever,headache,malaise,generalized body weakness and body rashes. Severe forms of the disease however presents with Neck weakness,disorientation,coma and  paralysis.

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