HypertensionHypertension is also known as high blood pressure. About 25% of all adults have high blood pressure. Normal blood pressure in an adult is below 120/80, the higher number is known as systolic and lower diastolic, any reading above is known as hypertension. If blood pressure is consistently high, it can damage the blood vessels, kidneys, heart and other parts of the body, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack. The causes of high blood pressure can be multiple, such as too much salt in a person's diet, being overweight, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, and other life factors. like stress. We know that doctors are not too sure of the causes but a person's lifestyle can have an effect. As you age, you are more likely to have high blood pressure (hypertension), but exercising can help reduce these changes and control your blood pressure if you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Read in the blood pressure section "the American Heart Association estimates that one-third of adults have high blood pressure and that in America, high blood pressure killed more than 55,000 people in 2005 alone" (Davis, 2013). Blood pressure measures the force with which blood is pushing against the artery walls. Arteries are made of semi-flexible muscles and tissues that stretch as blood flows through them, but over time, in people with high blood pressure, the artery walls stretch beyond their limits, which can cause other health problems such as vascular weaknesses at first. This excessive extension of the joint walls creates weak spots in the blood vessels, making them more prone to rupture. Health problems like strokes, aneurysms and min...... middle of paper ......776/Just-30-minutes-exercise-day-cut-high-blood-pressure-risk -fifth.html http: //hyper.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/09/30/HYPERTENSIONAHA.113.01965.abstract http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/09/30/HYPERTENSIONAHA .113.01965.full.pdf +html http://www.athleteinme.com/ArticleView.aspx?id=240 http://exerciseismedicine.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/hypertension_full.pdfElaine N. Marieb, 2010. Human anatomy and physiology (eighth edition). 8th edition. Pearson.Sarah Lennard-Brown, 2001. Stress and depression (health problems). Edition. Hodder Wayland. Robert EC Wildman, 2003. Sports and fitness nutrition (with InfoTrac). 1 edition. Cengages learning. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm Justine Davies, 2013. Blood Pressure – The Essential Guide. Edition. Need2know.661-694http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Effectsofalcohol.aspx