What is Hypertension? Report

Introduction

Medically, for one to be healthy; as concerns one’s blood pressure, the body’s arteries must maintain a pressure that should not exceed 120 systolic (maximum amount) and 80 diastolic (minimum amounts). If the body fails to maintain such pressures; more so in elevated states, two cases of blood pressure anomalies result namely: pre-hypertension and hypertension.

The former has a blood pressure ranging from 139 systolic to 89 diastolic and in most cases, it is a clear indication of likelihoods of hypertension occurring. The latter has blood pressure ranging from 140 systolic to 90 diastolic; hence, hypertension (Medilexicon International Limited, 2010, Para. 2-3).

This is one of the most chronic and common blood pressure disorders, with many associated health complications. In common life scenarios, it is very hard for individuals to recognize they suffer from the ailment, because it lacks clear symptoms that are detectable physically. In addition, the fact that, it lacks common symptoms; because of the variations that occur among different ailing individuals symptomatically, makes it harder for one to detect that, they are suffering from hypertension.

This fact makes most individuals call it the “silent assassin,” because most individuals discover they are suffering from the ailment when it is in its advanced stages. Two main forms of this ailment exist; essential and secondary, which primarily depend on the causal factors. That is, the former has no proved medical cause whereas, the latter results due to other external factors, which include tumors and kidney failures.

It is important to note that, early detection of the ailment can help in taming side effects that may result from elevated blood pressure however, if the same never happens, its persistent state is the main contributor of most health complications, which include arterial aneurysm, renal failures, and many heart complications (Cunha & Marks, 2010, p.1).

History of Hypertension

This blood pressure anomaly affects more than seventy five million U.S. inhabitants, a problem that becomes more serious in developing nations, due to lack of proper medication and detection mechanisms. It is important to note that, the condition is more prevalent among the elderly, although it also affects a good percentage of children and adults.

Hypertension is a historical health problem, which has been under study by most concerned medical researchers. The whole hypertension idea dates back to the time when Europeans endeavored to ascertain the blood circulation system. The main issue of concern then was the flow of blood and air in the human body.

As the quest continued, scientist such as Leonardo da Vinci came up with the coronary theory of blood circulation hence, disqualifying early held notions. As times passed and more questions arose as concerned blood pressure, scientist such as Cesalpino and Realdo Colombo advanced the theory of blood circulation and pressure, by bringing in the artery concept, as pertained blood circulation.

By the 19^th century, the entire concept of blood pressure received a lot of support with Claude’s findings on working of vascular nerves. Such discoveries gave a methodology that Richard bright used to link arterial contractions and blood pressure.

By wake of the 20^th century, scientist such as McLeod and Framingham in their quest to understand the factors behind hypertension linked various heart ailments to hypertension hence, making individuals to venture into discovering its causes, treatment and prevention mechanisms. In addition, this formed the main basis of the current understanding of the ailment hence, the current taming strategies adopted in most medical scenarios (Blood Pressure, 2010, p.1 and Hamdy, 2002, p.1)

Reference List

Blood Pressure. A brief history of Hypertension. Blood Pressure. Web.

Cunha, P. J., & Marks, J. W. (2010). High blood pressure (hypertension). Medicine Net. Web.

Hamdy, R. C. (2002). Hypertension: a turning point in the history of medicine and mankind. South Medical Journal, 94(11), p.1. Web.

Medilexicon international limited. What is hypertension? What causes hypertension?Medical News Today. Web.