Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
What is High Blood Pressure?
Your blood pressure varies throughout the day. It also varies with exercise, fear and pain. Temporary increases in blood pressure are normal. Blood pressure also increases with age.
In some people, the pressure remains high all the time. When the blood pressure reading is more than 140/90mmHg all the time, this condition is know as high blood pressure or hypertension. “Hyper” means “too much”, and “tension” refers to the pressure on the walls of the arteries.
What causes High Blood Pressure?
In 10% of patients, the high blood pressure may be caused by kidney disease, disorders of the endocrine system, narrowing of certain arteries or abnormality in the structure of the aorta (the large blood vessel leaving the heart). In many of these cases in particular, those with endocrine and vascular causes, the condition can be cured by surgical treatment.
For the rest of the patients, no explanation can be found. However, there is evidence to suggest that such cases of “essential” hypertension are associated with risk factors that are hereditary and lifestyle related.
Are you at risk for high blood pressure?
Risk factors include:
- Family history of high blood pressure
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Excessive salt intake
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Stress
How can you tell if you have high blood pressure?
In most people, high blood pressure causes no symptoms. If a person has high blood pressure that is severe or long-standing and untreated, the following symptoms may occur:
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Restlessness
- Blurred vision
The best way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to measure it.
What happens when you have High Blood Pressure?
Untreated and poorly controlled high blood pressure will lead to serious complications such as:
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- Blindness
How is High Blood Pressure treated?
High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled but not cured. The aim of the treatment is to prevent complications. Healthy lifestyle changes are usually tried first before any medications are prescribed.
When lifestyle changes alone fail to control high blood pressure, medications may be prescribed. To achieve good blood pressure control, doctors may recommend the use of more than one type of medication.
How to prevent High Blood Pressure?
The risk of getting high blood pressure can be lowered by:
- Reducing body weight in those who are overweight
- Reducing salt or sodium intake in your diet
- Increasing fibre and decreasing fat intake in your diet
- Not smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding excessive alcohol
- Managing your stress
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