Home Articles Articles Signs & Symptoms of Hypertension Find Everything you Need to Know About Hypertension Here

Find Everything you Need to Know About Hypertension Here

Find Everything You Need To Know About Hypertension Here

Hypertension is a lifestyle disease that affects a large number of urban populations worldwide. It is known to affect the functioning of other organs of the body that includes the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes. There are several ways to manage and prevent high blood pressure, and the first step is to begin screening for high blood pressure during the early years of your life, as early as 18 years of age, according to certain studies. Today, we will learn about everything you need to know about this disease and ways through which you can overcome it.

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What Is High Blood Pressure And Why Is It Causing 9.4 Million Deaths Worldwide?
What Is High Blood Pressure And Why Is It Causing 9.4 Million Deaths Worldwide?Hypertension or high blood pressure occurs when your heart has to take extra effort to pump blood, causing damage to the arteries in the process. Normal blood pressure ranges from 120-130 mmHg systolic and 80-90 mmHg diastolic. If it goes beyond these readings, you typically get diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Since hypertension is mostly asymptomatic, early detection plays a significant role in its prevention. It could otherwise cause extreme damage to your heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes and result in fatalities. Therefore, early detection and regular monitoring of your blood pressure hold the key in the entire scheme of things.
To stay ahead of the game, the need for hypertension screenings is paramount. It will help with early detection and treatment, thus, avoiding any mishaps that may happen when left untreated.

How To Understand High Blood Pressure Readings?
How To Understand High Blood Pressure Readings?Blood pressure reading comprises of two numbers – systole and diastole. Systolic blood pressure indicates the higher value and the extra force on your heart when it pumps out blood through the arteries. On the other hand, diastolic blood pressure is the lower value and indicates the pressure value of the arteries when your heart is resting or between two heartbeats.

There are five categories of blood pressure, and they are as follows:

  • Normal : Blood pressure reading is less than or equal to 120/80 mmHg
  • Elevated : Systolic blood pressure reading is between 120 and 129 mmHg, and the diastolic blood pressure reading is less than 80 mmHg
  • Stage 1 Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure reading is between 130 and 139 mmHg, or the diastolic blood pressure reading is between 80 and 89 mmHg
  • Stage 2 Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure reading is 140 mmHg or higher, or the diastolic blood pressure reading is 90 mmHg or higher
  • Hypertensive Crisis: Systolic blood pressure reading is over 180 mmHg, or the diastolic blood pressure reading is over 120 mmHg. If you are at this stage, you need immediate medical attention, and other symptoms such as chest pain, headache, shortness of breath, or visual changes may occur

What Are The Symptoms?
As you may have heard, hypertension is a silent killer and usually shows no signs or symptoms, and often goes undetected. Only when the condition reaches a severe stage, the symptoms become apparent. The symptoms of severe hypertension include:

  • headachesheadaches
  • shortness of breathshortness of breath
  • nosebleedsnosebleeds
  • flushingflushing
  • dizzinessdizziness
  • chest painchest pain
  • visual changesvisual changes

Understanding the causes can stop these symptoms and, in turn, prevent high blood pressure. There are quite a few causes of high blood pressure, and they include the following:

  • Family History Or Genetics

    Family history or geneticsIf someone in your family, especially your parents, have a history of hypertension, there’s a strong likelihood of it affecting you. However, it depends on your lifestyle too.

  • Underlying Health Issues

    Underlying health issuesThere is a possibility of other conditions giving rise to a high blood pressure problem. If you have any underlying conditions like thyroid or kidney problems, and other physical changes, it may cause an elevation in blood pressure.

  • Lifestyle Habits

    Lifestyle habitsErratic sleep pattern, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, alcohol intake, and other such lifestyle habits can cause a spike in blood pressure thus, leading to unwarranted diseases or health conditions.

Therefore, if left untreated, hypertension can lead to fatal conditions. These complications can include:

  • Damaged arteries
  • Enlarged heart which could lead to heart failure, heart attack, cardiac arrest, or arrhythmias
  • Brain damage due to unhealthy or reduced supply of oxygen-rich blood to the brain
  • Blurred vision or eyesight problems

When To See A Doctor?

When To See A Doctor?If diagnosed with high blood pressure, make sure you visit the doctor every year for a check-up, provided you abide by the treatment and medications recommended for you. In the opposite scenario, between the ages of 18 and 30, get your blood pressure checked every two years and annually once you cross 30 years.
Alternatively, if you happen to visit a doctor for another reason, do get your blood pressure checked during your appointment as it helps you track your blood pressure readings.

Primary hypertension gets treated with lifestyle modifications, and if they do not work, the doctor prescribes medicines. The treatment for secondary hypertension includes medications like beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and others. However, lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment upon the detection of hypertension. These lifestyle alterations include:

  • Developing a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins
  • Increasing physical activity and reaching a healthy weight with minimum 30-45 minutes of exercise every day
  • Managing stress, both physical and emotional, with meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, massage, and other such activities
  • Adopt a cleaner lifestyle by quitting smoking and limiting your alcohol intake as it causes a spike in blood pressure

In the end, the ideal way to prevent high blood pressure and other complications is its early detection. You may monitor your blood pressure at home or visit your doctor’s clinic. Regular monitoring of high blood pressure can curb the severity of the condition before it advances into the fatal territory.

Note of Caution: This article is for information purpose only. Always consult your doctor in case of any blood pressure or other health-related problems.

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Comments (9)

Hasnaat

Quite informative

Sunil

If my blood pressure value is 130/80 mmHg, do I need to worry about hypertension?

BPinControl

Pre-hypertension or high blood pressure is when the systolic blood pressure reading is 140 mmHg or above and the diastolic blood pressure reading is 90 mmHg or above. Therefore, if your current blood pressure value stands at 130/80 mmHg, ideally you have nothing to worry about. However, it is important that you maintain your blood pressure readings around 120-130 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic. You can continue to lead an active lifestyle, eat healthy and quit smoking and drinking to avoid sudden spikes in blood pressure. If you want to consult an expert, you can find one right here: Find a Physician and get your queries regarding hypertension answered. For articles and tips to control high blood pressure, you can also browse through our articles: Read Article.

Nilesh

What is the idea behind early screening of high blood pressure?

BPinControl

Hi, the idea behind early screening of high blood pressure is its early detection and thus, early treatment. Early detection of hypertension can avoid other fatal complications like heart failure, cardiac arrest, kidney dysfunction, vision problems, etc. As mentioned in the article, high blood pressure affects the functioning of other organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. Therefore, if one can help curb its rise at the beginning, it can avoid other health issues that may arise if left untreated. You can always consult a cardiologist or physician to learn more about the screening process for hypertension. If you do not know of one, you can find one near you right here: Find a Physician

Rudra

Does early detection of high blood pressure help keep it under control?

BPinControl

Hi, high blood pressure is a lifestyle disease which usually shows no signs or symptoms. Therefore, early detection or screening helps in the treatment process. The earlier it is detected, the quicker it can be brought under control. Therefore, if diagnosed with hypertension, get your blood pressure checked regularly and once a year if above 30 years of age. If you fall between 18 and 30 years, you can get your blood pressure checked every two years. The first line of treatment for hypertension is lifestyle modifications and does not involve medications. So, if the problem is detected at an early stage it can be treated with non-medicine therapies like eating habits, physical activity, weight management, etc. However, before you make any changes to your routine, it is important for you to discuss it with your cardiologist or physician. If you do not know of one, you can find a physician near you, right here: Find a Physician

Chetan

Is it possible to get diagnosed with hypertension if I lead an active lifestyle and eat healthy?

BPinControl

Hello, if you lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, half of your health problems will be taken care of. Eating a well-balanced diet also plays a key role in your overall health. Therefore, the possibility of getting diagnosed with hypertension is close to none. However, every individual’s body differs and lifestyle isn’t the only cause of hypertension. Underlying health conditions and other causes also play a role in the diagnosis of high blood pressure. Therefore, the right person to consult regarding hypertension would be a cardiologist or a physician who can explain the problem properly and guide you through the process. You can get in touch with a physician near you by visiting: Find a Physician and for articles and tips to control high blood pressure, you can also browse through our articles: Read Article.

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