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WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT?
While believing in divine healing, it is my opinion that we have the responsibility as
Christians to live a healthy life. To help you to do so, I am providing you with information concerning
some of the common diseases that can afflict mankind. It is my hope that the information so provided will
help you lead a lifestyle that will help minimise the risk of catching any of the diseases discussed here.
Of course as Christians you and I are aware of the power of prayer in all issues affecting our life.
DEFINITION
The heart is a pump designed to force blood through our body. Blood
is pumped from the heart through the arteries out to our muscles
and organs. Pumps work by generating pressure. Put simply, too much pressure
puts a strain on the arteries and on the heart itself. This can
cause an artery to rupture or the heart to fail under the strain -
in the worst case stopping altogether.
Blood pressure depends on a combination of two factors:
how forcefully the heart pumps blood around the body
how narrowed or relaxed your arteries are.
Hypertension occurs when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
One of the big problems with high blood pressure is that it hardly
ever causes symptoms. This means it may go unnoticed until it causes one of its later
complications such as a stroke or heart attack.
Despite the popularity of such ideas, nosebleeds and ruddy
complexions are hardly ever caused by high blood pressure.
Severe hypertension can cause symptoms such as:
- headache
- sleepiness
- confusion
- coma
WHAT CAUSES HYPERTENSION?
For more than 90 per cent of people with high blood pressure, the
cause is unknown. This is called 'primary' or 'essential hypertension'.
In the remaining 10 per cent or so, there is an underlying cause.
This is called 'secondary hypertension'.
Some of the main causes for secondary hypertension are:
- chronic kidney diseases
- diseases in the arteries supplying the kidneys
- chronic alcohol abuse
- hormonal disturbances
- endocrine tumours
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WHAT FACTORS INCREASE THE RISK OF HYPERTENSION?
Anyone can suffer from high blood pressure, but certain factors can
seriously aggravate hypertension and increase the risk of complications such as:
- A tendency in the family to suffer hypertension
- obesity ( being very fat)
- smoking
- diabetes
- kidney diseases
- high alcohol intake
- excessive salt intake
- lack of exercise
- certain medicines, such as steroids
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS?
These are:
Atherosclerosis: narrowing of the arteries.
Stroke: haemorrhage or blood clot in the brain.
Aneurysm: dangerous expansion of the main artery either in the
chest or the abdomen, which becomes weakened and may rupture.
Heart failure: reduced pumping ability.
Heart attack, Kidney failure and Eye damage.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Every adult near or past middle age should ‘know their numbers’- ie
your height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
You should also have regular blood pressure tests if there is a
family tendency for hypertension. This way, treatment can be
started before any complications arise.
Change your lifestyle:
- stop smoking
- lose weight
- exercise regularly
- cut down on alcohol
- eat a varied diet
- reduce stress by trying different relaxation techniques,
or by avoiding stressful situations.
These changes will lower blood pressure - to reduce your risk of developing the condition in
the first place or to treat hypertension.
If your blood pressure requires medical treatment, you will
probably have to take medicine on a regular basis.
If so, never stop taking it without consulting your GP, even if you
feel fine. As mentioned above , hypertension can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
MEDICINES IN USE
Your doctor may prescribe one of the following group of medicines.
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin-II recepter antagonists
Beta-Blockers
Alpha-Blockers
Calcium-Channel Blockers
Diuretics
Of course you can also ask DR JESUS in prayers to cure all your ailments
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