Travel Insurance For High Blood Pressure Sufferers

Travel insurance for high blood pressure sufferers can be arranged by World First who are international travel insurance specialists. World First offer cheap holiday insurance for people with high blood pressure and annual travel insurance for UK residents with medical conditions who find it difficult to buy travel insurance with cover for high blood pressure and associated medical problems elsewhere. For more information about travel insurance for high blood pressure and a quote for your holiday insurance call World First FREE on 0800 096 46 02.

Persistent high blood pressure (hypertension), if untreated puts you at greater risk of having a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke.

To measure blood pressure, two readings are taken:

• The systolic pressure. This is the first and higher measurement. It is a measure of the blood pressure as the heart contracts and pumps blood out.
• The diastolic pressure. This is the second and lower number. It is a measure of the blood pressure when the heart is relaxed and filling up with blood.

Blood pressure is measured in terms of millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Hypertension (high blood pressure) is defined as a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or more, or a diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg or more.

Blood pressure varies constantly during the day. The level of physical exertion, anxiety, stress, emotional changes and other factors may also cause changes in blood pressure. So blood pressure should be checked under resting conditions and single measurements are not particularly meaningful. A diagnosis of hypertension is not normally made unless a high blood pressure is measured on three separate occasions (usually over 3 months).

Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and increased exercise are important for everyone with raised blood pressure. Medicines to treat hypertension are particularly recommended for a sustained systolic pressure of 160 mmHg or more and/or diastolic pressure 100 mmHg or more.

High blood pressure is common. Moderately high diastolic pressures (90-109 mmHg) are found in about 1 in 4 middle-aged people. They are less common in younger people and more common in those who are older. Very high diastolic pressures (110-129 mmHg) are found in about 1 in 25 people. It is believed that there are large numbers of people who have high blood pressure but are not aware of it.

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Travel insurance for people with high blood pressure can be arranged by World First who are international travel insurance specialists. World First offer cheap holiday insurance for people with high blood pressure and annual travel insurance for UK residents with medical conditions who find it difficult to buy travel insurance with cover for high blood pressure and associated medical problems elsewhere. For more information about travel insurance for high blood pressure and a quote for your holiday insurance call World First FREE on 0800 096 46 02.

Most people with hypertension will not get any symptoms. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured.

In rare cases, the blood pressure can rise dramatically and without warning. The systolic blood pressure can reach 220mmHg and the diastolic pressure 120mmHg. Urgent treatment is required. This happens to less than 1 in 100 people who have hypertension.

The symptoms of this type of severe high blood pressure include:

• A bad headache,
• Feeling confused,
• Feeling sick,
• Having trouble seeing,
• Feeling very sleepy.

Source:
NHS Direct Online. © Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and Queen’s Printer for Scotland.