Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.
Blood pressure is the amount of pressure of blood pushing against the artery walls. Hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure levels exceed normal values. The early stage of the disease develops slowly over time. In most cases, patients have no obvious symptoms.
Blood pressure is an essential measurement that shows the circulation of blood through the vessels. Generally, the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries is minimal. A healthy blood pressure reading should be around 120/80.
Blood pressure is measured as two numbers.
- Systolic (the higher number) refers to the pressure during the period of the heart's contraction, that is when the heart is pushing blood out into the arteries. It depends on the force of heart contraction and the resistance of blood vessels.
- Diastolic (the lower number) refers to the pressure inside the arteries when the heart is at rest.
Hypertension is one of the most common diseases of the circulatory system, which is also a risk factor for the development of other cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke.
Symptoms of Hypertension
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headache
- loss of productivity
Weak vessel walls often cause nosebleeds. Other characteristic features include muscle weakness and emotion-processing abnormalities. Symptoms of high blood pressure are usually associated with the development of concomitant organ pathologies that result from impaired blood flow.
Risk Factors for Hypertension
Unfortunately, the reasons why some people develop high blood pressure remain unclear. However, there are a number of factors that can raise the risk of having hypertension.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Obesity. Obese people are 2-6 times more likely to develop hypertension.
- Diabetes.
- Smoking, alcohol abuse.
- High level of adrenaline (including stress-induced response).
- Kidney diseases.
- Thyroid gland diseases.
- Taking certain medicines (including hormonal contraceptives).
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Older age. The risk of having high blood pressure increases as people get older.
In most cases, unhealthy habits such as overeating, physical inactivity, poor diet, nicotine, and alcohol addiction can also lead to hypertension. Hence, hypertension is heavily linked to lifestyle choices. So lifestyle modification is a key component of successful treatment.
Complications of Hypertension
- Brain. The most dangerous complication of brain damage is a stroke. It is almost impossible to predict outcomes after stroke, and the recovery process can take a long time.
- Heart. Hypertension makes the heart muscle work harder, as it needs to keep the blood moving through the narrowed blood vessels. The increased workload can lead to a heart attack.
- Kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for maintaining the levels of fluid and salt in the body. High blood pressure affects normal kidney function, which in turn may induce renal failure.
- Retinal hemorrhage and detachment.
- Hypertension during pregnancy can lead to problems with fetal development and miscarriage.
The disease should be controlled before the onset of complications since hypertension may result in serious health problems. Treatment of high blood pressure includes drug therapy and lifestyle changes.