Hypertension: A silent killer, evade it with these tips

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the condition in which the blood pressure against the arteries is persistently elevated. 

Blood pressure is represented as Systolic, the upper number (Maximum number) & diastolic, the lower number (Minimum number), Eg (x/y).

The normal resting BP is adults in the range 100-300/60-80 mmHg, however in the presence of high blood pressure, the resting BP in an adult, is in the range 130/80 or 140/90 mmHg.

Hypertension can be of two types:

  • Primary or essential, due to lifestyle or genetic factors, & is an occurrence in 90% of the cases.
  • Secondary, due to presence of certain underlying conditions or diseases.

 

CLASSIFICATION OF BP RANGE IN ADULTS

 

Category Systolic (mmHg) Diastolic (mmHg)
Hypotension < 90 < 60
Normal 90 – 119

90 – 129

 60 – 79

60 – 84
Prehypertension 120 – 129

130 – 139

 60 – 79

85 – 89
Stage 1 Hypertension 130 – 139

140 – 159

 80 – 89

90 – 99
Stage 2 Hypertension > 140

160 – 179

 > 90

100 – 109
Hypertensive crisis >= 180 >= 120
Isolated systolic hypertension >= 160  90 – 110
Isolated diastolic hypertension < 140 >= 90

 

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION

  • Pounding feeling in head & chest
  • Pain in the back of the head.
  • Dizziness
  • Light-headedness
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Fainting

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

  • In primary high blood pressure, some recognizable causes are;
  • High salt diet
  • Diet with heavy fats & cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • No exercise
  • High consumption of alcohol
  • Excessive or chain smoking/Chewing tobacco
  • Lifestyle and genetic factors
  • Age
  • Stress
  • In Secondary high blood pressure, some risk factors that contribute to the condition are;
  • Cushing’s syndrome
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Fluctuation of the thyroid hormone
  • Fluctuation of the hormone secreted by the adrenal glands
  • Development of plaque in the arteries of the kidney, heart, etc.
  • Intake of drugs like cocaine, meth, cannabis etc.
  • Certain medications, like hypotension medications.

COMPLICATIONS ARISING OUT OF HYPERTENSION

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Stroke, seizure, coma & brain death
  • Heart failure
  • Vision loss
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Diabetes
  • Dementia
  • Hypertensive crisis, in which the BP ranges between 180/110, which can lead to organ damage.
  • In pregnant women, a disorder, of high blood pressure can occur, which can lead to death of the baby & organ damage.
  • Internal bleeding or hemorrhage.
  • Imbalance of electrolytes in the body
  • Death

DIAGNOSIS

  • Hypertension is diagnosed on the basis of a persistently high resting blood pressure & existing physical symptoms.
  • A device called sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure.
  • Listening to a particular artery called brachial artery through a stethoscope, for accurate inference of the blood pressure.
  • ECG is done to check for any abnormality in the heart movements or the electrical signals.
  • Nowadays, home kits for measuring blood pressure are available. 

TREATMENT FOR HYPERTENSION

  • Some medicines used for treating hypertension;
  • ACE inhibitors
  • ARBII inhibitors
  • Diuretics
  • Beta blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Vasodilators

PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT

  • Decrease salt content in diet
  • Maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Lower consumption of fatty foods, in other words food that are rich in cholesterol.
  • Exercise daily
  • Limit alcohol consumption & smoking.
  • Stress management.
  • Increase intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, & HDL.
  • Consumption of green tea.
  • Reduce Caffeine intake
  • Not get engaged in drugs like cocaine.
  • Increase dietary potassium.
  • Meditate