Your heart has 4 chambers: an atrium and a ventricle each on the right and left sides. Between heartbeats, blood flows into the atria. It then passes into the ventricles and is pumped out to the body.

Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by blood circulating into the blood vessels. Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, is when the flow of blood is lower than normal and may prevent the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients from pumped to the vital organs.

Antibiotics are prescribed for a variety of bacterial infections in every part of the body. Antibiotics are known to produce side effects in the intestines, causing concern that they have lowered the amount of acid in the stomach; however, that is not the problem.

According to the AARP website, 690 million people worldwide have hypertension (high blood pressure). Even those with blood pressure in the normal range have a 90 percent chance of developing hypertension after they reach age 55.

Having high blood pressure -- a condition that afflicts 31.3 percent of U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- can lead to serious consequences, such as increased risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, is a risk factor for serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. The University of Maryland Medical Center defines hypertension as having a systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg, and a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mm Hg, or both.

Creatinine is a waste product that forms when creatine is broken down. The kidneys are responsible for eliminating this waste product from the body, so blood creatinine levels are an important indicator of kidney function. If blood creatinine levels are too high, it can indicate a decline in kidney function.

There are quite literally hundreds of different medications to treat high blood pressure, but many commonly prescribed hypertension drugs can make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays.

C-reactive protein, or CRP, is a complex set of proteins produced by the liver. Your body makes more CRP when a major infection or trauma occurs in any area affecting the immune system. Along with an underlying medical cause, lifestyle habits and genetics regulate the amount of CRP produced.

The elderly are susceptible to problems maintaining a stable blood pressure. While high blood pressure is more common, some elderly adults suffer from chronic or intermittent low blood pressure.

Diuretics help improve your rate of urination. They are often used to flush the body of toxins and salt and to help with various health maladies that may cause water retention. Though diuretic medications like pamabrom and thiazide will work effectively, some fruits offer similar diuretic effects.

High blood pressure can be a serious condition that affects as much as one quarter of the world's population but is extremely treatable through medication, diet or lifestyle changes. Chronic elevation of blood pressure is a risk factor for many diseases and can lead to a decreased life expectancy.