Hormones, Hypertension and Headaches
As we all should know by now, everything we do affects our bodies – how active we are, how much stress we undergo, and even the weather we live in. So, if outside elements affect us in such a manner, it is no surprise that inside elements affects us all the more so.
Especially is this true in the area of hormones where we find that almost every organ and function in the body is affected by them – most of the time for the good, but sometimes for the bad.
Hypertension
For example, let’s examine hypertension. Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, can lead to very serious complications if not maintained. So much so, it is known as the “silent killer.” But what is it exactly? When blood flows through the body, a certain amount of force is exerted against the artery walls. This force exerted is called blood pressure, as reported by the Hormone Foundation. For example, when medical staff reads your blood pressure (BP) as 120/80, they are really reading the pressure of the heart when it contracts (systolic) and relaxes (diastolic).
When a person is hypertensive, they are experiencing a rise in blood pressure. Unfortunately, this is a very prevalent disease – over 50 million adults in the U.S. have it.
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Dita,
Thanks for a simple, understandable explanation of how things like headaches and high blood pressure can be related to hormones. One of the biggest difficulties in diagnosing conditions that are related to hormones can be getting a doctor to actually TEST your hormonal levels, sometimes more than once, to figure out what is normal for each individual and then figuring out how those levels are affecting that person. In a way, it seems like hormone levels should be tested annually as a part of our records, so that we can look back later in life and see what our "normal" levels were during certain times of life. Do you have any advice for women who believe they have a condition related to hormones but don't know what to do next?