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High blood pressure or hypertension - to give it the correct medical term - is regarded as the silent killer. It is a disease of the modern age. The fast pace of life and the mental and physical pressures caused by the industrial and metropolitan environments give rise to psychological tensions. Worry and mental tension increases the adrenaline in the blood stream and this, in turn, causes the pressure of the blood to rise. The blood which circulates through the arteries within the body supplies every cell with nourishment and oxygen. The force exert by the heart as it pumps the blood into the large arteries creates a pressure within them and this is called blood pressure. A certain level of blood pressure is thus essential to keep the blood circulating in the body. But when the pressure becomes too high, it results in hypertension which is caused by spasm or narrowing of the small blood vessels, known as capillaries, throughout the body. This narrowing puts more stress on the heart to pump blood through the blood vessels. Hence, the pressure of the blood to get through rises in proportion to the pressure on the heart. The blood pressure is measured with the instrument called sphygmomanometer in millimeters of mercury. The highest pressure reached during each heart beat is called systolic pressure and the lowest between the two beats is known as diastolic pressure. The first gives the pressure of the contraction of the heart as it pushes the blood on its journey through the body and indicates the activity of the heart. The second represents the pressure present in the artery when the heart is relaxed and shows the condition of the blood vessels. The blood pressure level considered normal is 120/70, but may go up to 140 /90 and still be normal. Within this range, the lower the reading, the better. Blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/95 is considered border line area. From 160/96 to 180/114, it is classed as moderate hypertension, while 180/115 and upward is considered severe. A raised diastolic pressure is considered more serious than the raised systolic pressure as it has a serious long-term effect. The higher the pressure the greater the danger it causes to the wall.

Symptoms

Mild and moderate hypertension may not produce any symptoms for years. The first symptoms may appear in the form of pain toward the back of the head and neck on waking in the morning, which soon disappears. Some of the other usual symptoms of hypertension are dizziness, aches and pains in the arms, shoulder region, leg, back, etc., palpitations, pain in the heart region, frequent urination, nervous tension and fatigue, crossness, emotional upset, tiredness and wakefulness. A person suffering from high blood pressure cannot do any serious work, feels tired and out of sorts all the time. He may experience difficulty in breathing and suffer from dyspepsia. Hypertension, if not eliminated, may cause heart attacks or strokes or other disability conditions such as detachment of the terina.

Causes

The most important causes of hypertension are stress and a faulty style of living. People who are usually tense suffer from high blood pressure, especially when under stress. If the stress continues for a long period, the pressure may become permanently raised and may not become even after removal of the stress. An irregular life style, smoking and an excessive intake of intoxicants, tea, coffee, cola drinks, refined foods, destroy the natural pace of life. The expulsion of waste and poisonous matter from the body is prevented and the arteries and the veins

become slack. Hardening of the arteries, obesity, diabetes and severe constipation also lead to hypertension. Other causes of high blood pressure are excessive intake of pain killers, common table salt, food allergies and eating a high fat, low fiber diet, processed foods deficient in essential nutrients. The kidneys play an important role in controlling blood pressure through secretion of rennin, a natural chemical. If increased rennin is secreted by the kidneys, more salts are retained in the body, which leads to an increase in the volume of circulating blood and consequently to an increase in the blood pressure. Repeated infections and inflammation in the kidneys can also give rise to hypertension.

The Cure

The safest way to cure hypertension is to remove the real cause. The natural way of dealing with it is to eliminate the poisons from the system which cause it. Persons with high blood pressure should always follow a well-balanced routine of proper diet, exercise and rest. Diet is of primary importance. Meat and eggs cause the blood pressure to rise more than any other food. The pressure is lowered and blood clotting diminished by partaking of a higher fruit content, lower protein and non-flesh diet.

A natural diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, instead of a traditional diet, is helpful in getting rid of the poisons from the body. A hypertension patient should start the process of healing by living on an exclusive fruit-diet for at least a week, and take fruits at five-hourly intervals thrice in the day. Oranges, apples, pears, mangoes, guava, pineapples, raspberry, water-melon are the best diet in such cases. Bananas and jack fruit should not be taken. Milk may be taken after a week of ‘fruits only’ diet. The milk should be fresh and should be boiled only once. The patient can be permitted cereals in his food after two weeks.

Vegetables are also good for the patient of hypertension. They should preferably be taken raw. If they are cooked, it should be ensured that their natural juices are not burnt in the process of cooking. Vegetables like cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, onion, radish, cabbage and spinach are best taken in their raw form. They may be cut into small pieces and sprinkled with a little salt and the juice of a lemon added to them so as to make them more palatable.

Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. The pressure and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasms of the small arteries. Garlic also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. The average dosage should be two to three capsules a day to make a dent in the blood pressure.

Indian gooseberry (amla) is another effective food remedy for high blood pressure. A tablespoonful each of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning in this condition. Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is essential for preventing capillary fragility. Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. It was proved in recent experiments that a substance extracted from watermelon seeds has a definite action in dilating the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure. Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and hypertension. Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low incidence of hypertension even if they do not control their salt-intake. They have also found that people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. The two essential nutrients seem to help the body throw off excess sodium and are involved in important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in abundance in fruits and vegetables and calcium in dairy products.

Exercise plays an important role in curing hypertension. Walking is an excellent form of exercise. It helps to relieve tension, builds up the muscles and aids in the circulation of blood. As the blood pressure shows signs of abating, more exercise like bicycling, swimming, jogging should be taken.

Persons suffering from hypertension must ensure at least eight hours of restful sleep, because proper rest is an important aspect of the treatment. Most important of all, the patient must avoid over-straining, worries, tension, anger and haste. He must try to be cheerful and develop a contented mind. The natural treatment may take sometime but it is the safest and best way to get rid of this disease.

Many of us will need to receive a blood transfusion at some time in our lives. If you have donated blood before, you know how good it feels to do something special for someone. The American Red Cross and other blood banks have safeguards to make sure that blood is safe to give and to receive.

Anyone 18 years or older and over 110 pounds is eligible to give blood. It is necessary to wait at least 8 weeks between blood donations. You will be asked to provide personal identification before you donate. Questions are asked privately about intravenous drug use, HIV test results, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Other questions will be asked about illnesses or medical conditions that might contaminate the blood supply or make blood donation unsafe for you. All information is confidential. General health checks are taken for blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.

A sample of the potential donor's blood is typed and tested for anemia, hepatitis, syphilis, and the AIDS virus. The blood will not be used if tests show that the person may be a carrier for these illnesses or other viruses. Many blood banks have adopted a program for donors who are at risk for AIDS to give blood that is used for research purposes. This blood is not part of the general blood supply for donation to the public.

Blood is usually donated while lying down. The skin on an arm is cleaned with an antiseptic and a new, sterile, non-reusable needle is used to withdraw about a pint of blood. Most people feel fine during and after blood donation. A few people may feel dizzy or faint. Juice and snacks are provided by the staff to help the donor's body adjust to the change in blood volume. Bruising at the blood draw site may occur. It takes the body less than 24 hours to replenish the lost fluid and 6 weeks to replace red blood cells.

Being deferred from donation due to a low hematocrit (red blood cell count) does not always mean that you have a medical problem. Your usual hematocrit may simply be below our standard. However, if you have been deferred more than once for a low hematocrit, it is possible that you are truly anemic.

A common cause of mild anemia, especially in women, is iron (Fe) deficiency. Therefore, we suggest two things that you can try. First, be certain your diet contains iron-rich foods.

Second, consider taking iron medication for a short time. Iron pills can be purchased without a prescription. Ferrous fumarate 200 mg tablets or ferrous sulfate 300 mg tablets are forms of iron that are usually well tolerated, especially if taken with meals. The usual dose is one tablet by mouth three times a day for eight weeks. However, the dose amount may vary among different brands, so check with your pharmacist. Iron pills should never be taken for more than eight weeks unless directed by a physician. Also, a course of iron therapy should not be repeated in the future unless you have been evaluated by your physician to confirm the correct diagnosis and to determine why you did not respond to the initial course of iron pills. Iron pills can be toxic if too many are taken. They must be kept out of reach of children.

Remember, we are suggesting a presumptive diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia made simply because you have been deferred from blood donation due to a low hematocrit. You may wish to be further evaluated by your physician at this time, and we urge you to do so if you are having other medical problems, if your hematocrit does not become normal after eight weeks of iron, or if you should become anemic again in the future.

We will be happy to consider you again as a donor. Please call in approximately two weeks. We will recheck your blood count, and if it is normal, you may donate at that time.

Blood cells, consisting of red cells, white cells, and platelets, are made in the bone marrow, a soft, spongy tissue found in the center of large bones. In healthy people, millions of new blood cells are produced each hour to carry out important body functions. red blood cells (erythrocytes) carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. white blood cells (leukocytes) fight infections and illness. platelets (thrombocytes) cause the blood to clot, a process that stops bleeding when there is an injury.

The body carefully regulates the activity of bone marrow to produce the correct number of each type of cell. If this regulation process is disrupted and the marrow produces too many or too few cells, a blood disorder occurs. The blood disorders discussed are:

• Essential Thrombocythemia
• Idiopathic Myelofibrosis
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Polycythemia Vera
• Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

Also included:

• Coping with Stress
• Glossary of Terms
• Blood Count Values

All of these blood disorders require medical attention. Depending on your treatment, there may be long periods of time when you experience no symptoms, but you should always be alert to any changes that occur with your condition. If your symptoms arise or worsen, contact your doctor immediately. Also, feel free to contact your doctor with questions you have about your disorder, the treatment you are receiving, or any other concerns you may have.

An aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning of the wall of a blood vessel that has weakened. If the bulge stretches too far, it may leak or rupture. Aneurysms are most common along the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. When a rupture occurs, the body cavity fills with blood. This sudden bleeding results in shock and often rapid death. An aneurysm that ruptures in an artery of the brain causes a stroke.

It is not known why aneurysms occur in some people and not others. People with the greatest risk are white men over age 55. Aneurysms are among the top ten causes of death among this group. Brain artery aneurysms affect both men and women at younger ages. Men are three times more likely to have abdominal aortic aneurysms than women. Aneurysms appear to be caused by a congenital weakness in the vessel wall, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, injuries, infection, smoking, and other diseases.

Most aortic aneurysms grow slowly. Over many years, the walls slowly stretch and enlarge like a balloon. The normal aorta is about as wide and as tough as a garden hose. An aneurysm in this blood vessel can grow to the size of an orange before it ruptures. One-third of aneurysms that are larger than 2 inches wide rupture within 5 years. The risk of dying from a ruptured aneurysm is about 90 percent.

Brain arteries and aneurysms are much smaller. Aneurysms do not always cause symptoms. They are often noticed during routine medical exams. Many are found during diagnostic procedures for other problems. In some cases aneurysms are detected by ultrasound exams, CAT scans, MRIs, or X-rays.

When symptoms occur, they depend on the site of the bulge. A pulsating sensation may be felt. Pain is caused from the pressure on surrounding organs. An aneurysm in the chest affects swallowing if it presses on the esophagus, or may cause chest pain if it presses on the lungs. Pain may be felt in the back and groin from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Most people are unaware of the aneurysm until a rupture occurs. People usually describe the pain as severe or tearing when an aneurysm begins to leak or rupture.

People with symptoms should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of surgery with their healthcare provider. No drugs have been developed to detect or reduce the growth rate of aneurysms. Be prudent in your health choices: stop smoking, monitor your blood pressure, and exercise in moderation to improve your physical fitness.