HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE)

 

 HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE)

High blood pressure often referred to as hypertension is a long-term disorder of heart and blood vessels, where the pressure of the blood flow against artery walls is persistently high. This condition thus adds more pressure on the heart, blood vessels and other body organs which may result in various health risks.

 Definition:

 Hypertension is a situation whereby the pressures of blood against the walls of arteries are always raised. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is recorded as two numbers: systemic hypertension, which is the pressure of blood against the arterial walls during its contraction (systolic) in relation to pressure during the heart’s diastole (relaxation). The normal blood pressure is frequently put at 120/80 which is known as normotension. Hypertension is normally defined as having your blood pressure level of 130/80 mmHg and above.

 

 Types of Hypertension:

 Primary (essential) hypertension: This is the most common type, was told no cause can be found. Generally, it takes many years of practice before it can be developed properly.

 Secondary hypertension: This type is symptomatic of another disease for instance kidney disease or hormonal disorders.

 Causative Factors:

 Unhealthy lifestyle habits: One is taking a lot of junk food; two, he/she is a real couch potato; three, is a heavy drinker; and four, smoke.

 Genetic factors: Lifestyle factors; It may be due to family history of hypertension and other ways.

 Other medical conditions: The major conditions associated with hypertension include obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea.

 Age and gender: Categorisation shows that hypertension is prevalent among the elderly and among men of less than 55 years of age. Women are also at a higher risk when they get older especially after going through menopause.

 

 Prevention:

 Healthy diet: For comparison’s sake, let us look at the following dietary descriptions: low: salt, saturated fats, and cholesterol; high: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

 Regular exercise: A goal of moderate intensity exercise should be 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in a week.

 Maintain a healthy weight: Weight reduction is constructive in the decrease of raised high blood pressure and the fat should be reduced.

 Limit alcohol intake: Alcohol consumption is known to increase blood pressure and when taken in large portions as alcohol it will have this effect.

 Manage stress: Deep breathing, meditation, yoga and any other method that can be recommended to a patient is of big help.

 Signs and Symptoms:

 These non-specific symptoms make hypertension also known as the ‘silent killer’ because in most cases, you will not even know that you are affected. However, in severe cases, it can lead to symptoms like:However, in severe cases, it can lead to symptoms like:

 

 Severe headaches

 Fatigue or confusion

 Vision problems

 Chest pain

 Difficulty breathing

 

 

Management:

 

 Pharmacological treatment: Hypertension is usually treated with diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and many other drugs.

 Non-pharmacological treatment:

 Lifestyle modifications: Such as alterations in the diet, engaging in bodily activities, exercises, control of body weight and methods of handling stress.

 Regular monitoring: Monitoring of blood pressure by home monitoring and follow up clinic appointments.

 Avoiding triggers: Examples include, reducing the use of salt, taking little or no alcohol, and avoiding stressful situations.

 

 Complications:

 

 Heart disease: Hypertension is therefore associated with coronary artery diseases, heart failure and heart attack.

 Stroke: Highblood pressure can aggravate vessel walls in the brain making them vulnerable to a stroke.

 Kidney damage: When the pressure is high in the blood vessels, the blood vessels in the kidneys get damaged and cannot filter out waste products.

 Vision loss: That hypertension affects the blood vessels of the eyes, which might cause vision complications, or blindness.

Conclusion:

 Hypertension needs a comprehensive approach which can involve change of behavior, periodic checkups and rarely medical treatment. It is actually very important that high blood pressure in pre-eclamptic women be diagnosed early and well managed in order to minimize the risk of complicating factors. Hypertension should be managed with the help of the patient’s primary care physicians as much as possible.