Hypertension: Killing the Silent Killer

By Dr. Sanul Corrielus

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is called the silent killer because it often has no symptoms. When unchecked, it can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart attack and stroke. How will you know when you have hypertension? How can you prevent it, and if you have it, how can you treat it?

Dr. Sanul Corrielus addresses these ques

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purposely Created Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781644846087

Book preview

PREFACE

I am Dr. Sanul Corrielus. I was born in Haiti, one of nine children. We were farmers. My father left for America when I was two years old so that he could get a job and send money home. My mother functioned almost as a single parent for most of my life. It was her faith and determination that introduced me to the power of hard work and commitment.

We weren’t alone in the world because the entire village functioned as one. We were dependent on the land to provide food and money, and we all worked together to make that happen. I learned about following through on promises, about getting up every morning and putting in the work. Life wasn’t easy, but it was consistent.

When I was sixteen, my father asked me to join him in America. I jumped at the chance. I could finish high school in the US and matriculate to college. I would have opportunities far beyond what was available at home.

Growing up, I didn’t have much of a relationship with my dad. He was so far away, and he could never come to visit us due to his immigration status. We had an annual phone call that I was forced to share with my mother and all my siblings. So, when I arrived in Pennsylvania, it was like I was meeting him for the first time.

There were so many things I wanted to do with him to make up for lost time. I wanted to fly kites; I saw other children doing that with their fathers and longed to experience that with my own father. Tragically, one year after we reconnected, heart disease stole him from me. That moment galvanized me to try to prevent the same thing from happening to other children and families. I believe it is my mission to educate as many people as I can.

Heart disease is preventable; that’s one of the things that makes it so tragic. Hypertension is a state that affects millions of people, and some aren’t even aware they suffer! With hypertension (or elevated blood pressure), moms and dads, children and grandparents, cousins and friends are in danger of suffering from heart disease, kidney dysfunction, vascular disease, headaches, vision problems, and a host of other debilitating conditions.

It is my calling to save as many people as I can by spreading the word and sharing what I have learned both in school and on the job. Use this ebook as a reference if you or your loved ones have questions about hypertension. Use it to educate yourself before meeting with your medical care team. But most of all, I hope you will use it to avoid the dangers of hypertension altogether. It is much safer to address your concerns with lifestyle changes than it is with medication and surgery.

CHAPTER ONE

WHAT IS HYPERTENSION AND WHY IS IT CALLED THE SILENT KILLER?

Hypertension is the condition of high blood pressure in the arteries. The main valve out of the heart is the aortic valve. When the heart pumps, the valve opens to let the blood out. When the blood pressure becomes elevated, it is harder for the heart to pump. It increases the workload for the muscle and decreases the efficiency by which it delivers blood to the vital organs.

According to the Joint National Committee Report (JNC6), hypertension is defined as any blood pressure above 130/80. The first number is the systolic pressure; it measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. The second number is diastolic pressure, which measures the resting pressure between beats.

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The circulatory cycle starts out with the diastolic action, where the heart relaxes and fills up with blood. Imagine a balloon: when you blow into it, it expands. Normally the relaxed heart can fill up this way because the walls are