Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Overview

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a frequent disorder in which the blood's long-term force against the artery walls is high enough to produce health problems such as heart disease.

The amount of blood your heart pumps, as well as the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries, influence your blood pressure. 

The greater your blood pressure, the more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries become. Blood pressure measurement is in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). It has two digits.

Number one (systolic pressure). When your heart beats, the first, or upper, number measures the tension in your arteries.

The number bottom (diastolic pressure). The second, or lower, the number refers to the tension in your arteries between each heartbeat.

High blood pressure can be present for years without causing any symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure raises your risk of significant health problems like heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure, fortunately, is easily detectable. You can work with your doctor to control your blood pressure after discovering you have it.

Symptoms

Even when blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels, most persons with high blood pressure have no indications or symptoms.

Headaches, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds are common signs and symptoms of high blood pressure, but they aren't specific. Usually, they don't appear until the condition has progressed to a severe or life-threatening stage.

When should you see a doctor?

Your blood pressure will certainly be taken as part of a typical doctor's visit.

Starting at 18, ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years. Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year if you're 40 or older or 18 to 39 and have a high risk of high blood pressure.

Blood pressure should be taken in both arms to ascertain if there is a difference. It's critical to utilize an arm cuff that's the right size.

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have other cardiovascular risk factors, your doctor will likely urge more regular readings. Blood pressure is usually checked in children aged three and up as part of their annual examinations.

If you don't see your doctor regularly, you may be able to get a free blood pressure screening at a health resource fair or other community sites. Some establishments now have equipment that will measure your blood pressure for free.

Public blood pressure machines, such as those found at pharmacies, can help determine your blood pressure, but they have certain limitations. The accuracy of these machines is determined by several parameters, including cuff size and machine usage. Inquire with your doctor about the use of public blood pressure equipment.

Causes of high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be divided into two categories.

• Primary hypertension (essential)

There is no known cause of elevated blood pressure in most persons. Primary (essential) hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that develops gradually over several years.

Hypertension that develops as a result of something else

An underlying ailment can produce high blood pressure in some persons.

•  Secondary hypertension

 It is a type of high blood pressure that appears suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than initial hypertension. Secondary hypertension can be caused by a variety of illnesses and drugs, including:

*Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a type of sleep apnea that

*Kidney disease is a condition that affects the kidneys

*Tumors of the adrenal gland

*Thyroid issues

*Specific blood vessel malformations (congenital) are present at birth.

*Birth control pills, cold treatments, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers, and some prescription pharmaceuticals are examples of medications.

*Cocaine and amphetamines are examples of illegal substances.

Factors that are at risk

There are numerous risk factors for high blood pressure, including:

*Age. As you become older, your chances of developing high blood pressure increase. Men are more likely than women to have high blood pressure until they reach the age of 64. After the age of 65, women are more prone to have high blood pressure.

*Race. High blood pressure is more common among African-Americans than in whites, and it often develops at a younger age. Serious consequences like stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure are also more likely in African-Americans.

*History of the family. High blood pressure is a condition that tends to run in families.

* Obesity is being overweight. The more blood you need to deliver oxygen and nourishment to your tissues, the more you weigh.

The pressure on your artery walls rises as the volume of blood flow via your blood vessels increases.

*Being inactive physically. Physically inactive people have a greater heart rate. The more complex your heart has to work with each contraction, and the greater the force on your arteries, the higher your heart rate is. Being overweight is also linked to a lack of physical activity.

*Tobacco use. Smoking or chewing tobacco not only momentarily raises your blood pressure, but the chemicals in tobacco can also damage the lining of your artery walls.

This can constrict your arteries and put you at risk for heart disease. Secondhand smoke can potentially raise your risk of heart disease.

*You are consuming too much salt (sodium) in your diet. If you overeat sodium, your body will retain fluid, which will raise your blood pressure.

*Potassium deficiency in the diet. Potassium helps to keep the sodium levels in your cells in check. A healthy potassium balance is essential for heart health. Sodium can build up in your blood if you don't get enough potassium in your diet or lose too much potassium due to dehydration or other health problems.

*Overindulging in alcoholic beverages. Heavy drinking might harm your heart over time. Women who drink more than one drink per day and males who drink more than two drinks per day may increase blood pressure.

If you choose to consume alcohol, do so in moderation. That is up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for males for healthy people. Twelve ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor equals one drink.

*Stress. High-stress levels might cause a temporary rise in blood pressure. Stress-related behaviors such as overeating, smoking, or drinking alcohol can cause blood pressure to rise even higher.

*Certain chronic illnesses. Kidney illness, diabetes, and sleep apnea are among chronic disorders that might increase your risk of high blood pressure.

Pregnancy can sometimes contribute to high blood pressure.

Although adults are more likely to have high blood pressure, children may also be at risk. High blood pressure can be caused by problems with the kidneys or the heart in some children. However, bad lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, contribute to high blood pressure in an increasing number of children.

Complications

High blood pressure puts too much pressure on your artery walls, which can harm your blood vessels and organs. The more your blood pressure rises and the longer it remains uncontrolled, the more harm it does.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause a variety of problems, including:

*A heart attack or a stroke are both possibilities. Atherosclerosis (hardening and thickening of the arteries) caused by high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other issues.

*Aneurysm. Aneurysms arise when blood arteries weaken and bulge due to high blood pressure. An aneurysm can be life-threatening if it ruptures.

*Heart failure is a severe condition. The heart has to work harder to pump blood against the increasing pressure in your veins. The walls of the heart's pumping chamber thicken due to this (left ventricular hypertrophy). The swollen muscle may eventually struggle to pump enough blood to fulfill your body's needs, resulting in heart failure.

*Kidney blood arteries have become weak and constricted. This can make it difficult for these organs to function appropriately.

*Blood vessels in the eyes have thickened, constricted, or torn. You may lose your vision as a result of this.

*Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which the body's metabolism is disrupted. Increased waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), high blood pressure, and high insulin levels are all symptoms of this syndrome. Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are more likely if you have these illnesses.

*Problems with memory or comprehension. Uncontrolled high blood pressure might impair your capacity to think, recall, and learn. People with high blood pressure are more likely to have memory or comprehension problems.

*Dementia. Blood flow to the brain can be restricted by narrowed or clogged arteries, resulting in dementia (vascular dementia). Vascular dementia can also be caused by a stroke that blocks the blood supply to the brain.