DISEASE

DISEASE NUTRITION IN HYPERTENSION AND CARDIO-VASCULAR DISEASE UNIT - - - NUTRITION IN HYPERTENSION AND CARDIO-VASCULAR DISEASE Normal: Less than / mm Hg; Elevated Blood Pressure : Systolic between - and diastolic less than mm Hg Stage Hypertension : Systolic between - or diastolic between - mm Hg Stage Hypertension : Systolic atleast or diastolic at least mm Hg Hypertensive crisis: Systolic over and/or diastolic over mm Hg. When the cause for hypertension is unknown, it is called “essential or idiopathic or primary hypertension”. Hypertension of unknown causes is present in a majority of hypertensive individuals. In a small percentage of individuals, it is caused because of some other underlying health problem which may include kidney disease and diseases of the adrenal gland. This is referred to as “secondary hypertension”. Heredity and obesity are predisposing factors in hypertension. Smoking and stress also contribute to hypertension Fig . Sphygmomanometer used in the measurement of blood pressure . Risk factors for hypertension Factors responsible for hypertension are discussed below: ¡ ¡ Heredity: Children of hypertensive parents tend to have a higher risk of developing hypertension at an early age. This strongly suggests that there is a genetic basis for developing high blood pressure. ¡ ¡ Age: The prevalence of hypertension increases with age. Increase in blood pressure with age may be due to the blood vessels becoming more rigid and less elastic as one ages. ¡ ¡ Gender: Higher prevalence of hypertension has been found among males from adolescence till years of age. But after the age of , mean blood pressure values are higher in women. ¡ ¡ Obesity: Obesity is an independent risk factor for CVD and hypertension. The severity of hypertension increases with increasing Body Mass Index also known as BMI (BMI = Weight in Kg / Height in m ). The risk of hypertension in individuals with abdominal obesity is higher than those with normal waist circumference. Fig . Central obesity increases the risk of hypertension ¡ ¡ Physical activity: A person who is