Blood Pressure Increase (Hypertension)

Elevated blood pressure -an intermittent or sustained increase in blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg - strikes more men than women and twice as many Blacks than Whites. By itself, this common sign is easily ignored by the patient; after all he can't see or feel it. However, its causes can be life threatening. Hypertension has been reported to be two to three times more common in women taking hormonal contraceptives than those not taking them. Women ages 35 and older who smoke cigarettes should be strongly encouraged to stop; if they continue to smoke, they should be discouraged from using hormonal contraceptives.
Elevated blood pressure may develop suddenly or gradually. A sudden, severe rise in pressure (exceeding 180/110mm Hg) may indicate life-threatening hypertensives crisis. However, even a less dramatic rise may be equally significant if it heralds a dissecting aortic aneurysm, increased intracranial pressure, myocardial infarction, eclampsia, or thyrotoxicosis.
Usually associated with essential hypertension, elevated blood pressure may also result from a renal or endocrine disorder, a treatment that affects fluid status (such as dialysis), or from the use of certain drugs. Ingestion of large amounts of certain foods, such as black licorice and cheddar cheese, may temporarily elevate blood pressure.
Sometimes, elevated blood pressure may simply reflect inaccurate blood pressure measurement. However , careful measurement alone Blood pressure - the force blood exerts on vessels as it flows through the, -depends on cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and blood volume. A brief review of its regulating mechanisms- nervous system control, capillary fluid shifts, kidney excretion, and hormonal changes- will help you understand how elevated blood pressure develops. Elevated blood pressure signals the breakdown or inappropriate response of these pressure-regulating mechanisms. Its associated signs and symptoms concentrate in the target organs and tissues.
(info Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms 5th Edition Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)