Hypertension, High Blood Pressure

Hypertension or High blood pressure is a chronic condition wherein the arterial blood pressure is persistently elevated. Elevated blood pressure is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and aneurysm.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the wall of the body’s arteries which are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from one’s heart to different parts of the body.

The pressure is believed to depend on the blood vessels’ resistance and how hard the heart has to pump.

Hypertension or High blood pressure is a chronic condition wherein the arterial blood pressure is persistently elevated. Elevated blood pressure is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and aneurysm. It is a major cause of premature death globally.

Normal Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure (BP) Range is recorded in 2 measurements: Systolic and diastolic pressure.

• Systolic pressure: It is the pressure exerted when blood is ejected into arteries. In other terms, it is the force at which one’s heart pumps blood. It is considered the higher number. Normal systolic pressure is 120mmHg or below.
• Diastolic pressure: It is the pressure blood exerts within arteries between heartbeats. In other words, it is the resistance to the blood flow within the blood vessels. It is considered the lower number. Normal diastolic pressure is 80mmHg or below.

High Blood Pressure

A range over 140/90mmHg is considered to be a high blood pressure range. An ideal range of blood pressure has to be around 120/80 mmHg.

What Symptoms will you have if suffer from Hypertension?

Hypertension is generally called a “silent killer”, as most people are unaware of having it because it might not be symptomatic. They can be nosebleeds, early morning headaches, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes, and buzzing in the ears when symptoms occur. High hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, dizziness, visual disturbance, facial flushing, vomiting, confusion, chest pain, anxiety, and muscle tremors. Regular checking of blood pressure can detect any abnormalities in the range.

Learn about different kinds of Hypertension

There are 2 kinds of Hypertension.

1. Primary

The most common form in adults is also known as essential hypertension and does not have a known cause. However, genes, diet, lifestyle factors (like smoking, drinking, inadequate exercise, stress), and age could predispose primary hypertension factors.

2. Secondary

This is the form of hypertension when the underlying cause is identifiable and potentially reversible on treating the cause. It occurs in about 5–10% of cases. Some common reasons are:

• Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to kidneys.
• Gland diseases like adrenal gland disease
• Side effects of some medications like birth control pills, antidepressants, etc.
• Thyroid hormone abnormalities
• Constriction of the aorta is the major blood vessel carrying blood out of one’s heart to the body.

Why would you suffer from high blood pressure?

The cause of primary hypertension is not particular. However, secondary hypertension has specific causes and is mostly a complication of underlying health problems. Conditions that could lead to hypertension are:

• Diabetes
• Kidney diseases
• Hyperthyroidism
• Sleep apnoea
• Obesity
• Cushing syndrome caused by corticosteroid drugs

Risk factors that contribute to the development of hypertension are:

Modifiable risk factors include –

• Unhealthy dietary habits: A diet high in salt, saturated fats and trans fats while low in fruits & vegetables.
• Physical inactivity
• Excess use of alcohol/tobacco
• Obesity

Non-modifiable risk factors include –

• Age: Blood pressure is found to increase with age as the arteries stiffen/narrow steadily. Thus, hypertension is more common in people over 60 years of age.
• Ethnicity: African Americans are at higher risk
• Increases the risk of having hypertension.
• Gender: Males are more prone to hypertension than females

What will happen if you suffer from Hypertension?

Long-term hypertension can cause excess pressure that hardens arteries, decreasing the blood flow and reducing oxygen supply to the tissues. This results in complications like:

• Angina, commonly known as chest pain
• Heart attack: blood supply to the heart is blocked, and heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen.
• Heart failure: occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood
• An irregular heartbeat that could lead to sudden death
• Kidney failure
• Aneurysm: the abnormal bulge of the arterial wall that could burst at any point in time
• Stroke: due to blockage of arteries in the brain that result in reduced blood supply
• Amputation: due to lack of blood supply to the limbs
• Retinopathy: that could lead to blindness

Keep track of your Hypertension at home!

A digital blood pressure monitoring machine is available these days to regularly check the blood pressure levels at home. It consists of a cuff that needs to be wrapped around your arm, and reading will be shown on the monitor when you turn on the machine.

Medical Diagnosis

A Sphygmomanometer (a traditional BP monitor) is used for routine blood pressure checkups in any doctor’s office. The BP is recorded manually by a nurse. If there is a persistent rise in BP, the doctor will conduct more tests to rule underlying diseases like cholesterol screening, ECG, etc.

Treatment You need for Hypertension

Medications that are commonly used to treat hypertension are:

• Beta-blockers: To make one’s heartbeat slower and with less force. This reduces the amount of blood being pumped through arteries which lower blood pressure.
• Diuretics: Also called water pills, help kidneys remove excess sodium from the body. As the sodium leaves, excess fluid also moves into the urine, thereby reducing the blood pressure.
• ACE inhibitors: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors prevent the body from producing excess angiotensin, a chemical that causes blood vessels & artery walls to tighten and narrow. This in turn helps blood vessels relax and reduce blood pressure.
• Calcium channel blockers: Block calcium from entering cardiac muscles helping in less forceful heartbeats & lower blood pressure.
• Alpha-blockers: Helps blood vessels relax, in turn reducing blood pressure.

Prevention before too late!

Lifestyle changes include increasing physical activity of at least 150 mins of moderate exercise, maintaining an optimal weight, reducing stress and anxiety, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, reducing sodium and fat intake and getting enough sleep of 7–8 hours can all help prevent hypertension.

Diet includes a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein like fish.

Original article:
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Written by: GoBowtie