Know About "HYPERTENSION"

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe complications and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death. Hypertension and heart disease are global health concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that the growth of the processed food industry has impacted the amount of salt in diets worldwide and that this plays a role in hypertension.

High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

HOW BAD IS 140/90 Blood Pressure?

You should be concerned if your blood pressure is going up, but remember that it's possible to lower it with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.

According to guidelines followed by doctors, blood pressure is normal if it's 120/80 or below. The range of 120/80 to 139/89, which was once classified as normal to high, is now considered to be pre-hypertensive.

If your blood pressure falls somewhere in the pre-hypertensive range, it may quickly develop into high blood pressure, or 140/90 or above. Most doctors now recommend lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure for anyone with a reading above 120/80. If you have added risk factors such as being overweight or having high blood sugar or cholesterol, the concern is even greater. Even though you may not have any symptoms, high blood pressure increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. Since cardiovascular disease is the cause of death for one out of every three Americans, any evidence of high blood pressure is cause for concern.

Is Hypertension curable or treatable?

Hypertension is almost always managed with drugs and lifestyle changes. But in some cases, it may have a clear cause and cure.

If you have blood pressure that is being caused by another health problem (secondary hypertension), it might be possible to get rid of your high blood pressure. By successfully treating the underlying cause of your problem, your blood pressure may then return to normal.

However, there are still things that can be done for people with essential hypertension. The most effective way to lower your blood pressure is to make lifestyle changes and take any medicines your doctor gives you.

·        Eat a nutritious, low-fat diet. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH outlines the DASH diet, that is described as a "flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life."

·        Get regular exercise.

·        Decrease salt (sodium) intake, read food labels so you know the salt content before you buy a product in the grocery store or eating a meal at a fast food restaurant, and avoid adding salt to foods.

·        Maintain a healthy weight, and if you are overweight or obese, try to lose weight.

·        Drink alcohol in moderation.

·        Stop smoking.

·        Get routine health assessments and blood pressure screening.

·        Take your blood pressure medications as directed, even if you're feeling fine.

·        Reduce stress and practice relaxation techniques, for example, meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, and other types of physical activity.

What can cause hypertension?

Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into blood vessels, which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood out to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, to stroke, kidney disease, and to heart failure

• Normal: Less than 120 over 80 (120/80)
• Elevated: 120-129/less than 80
• Stage 1 High Blood Pressure: 130-139/80-89
• Stage 2 High Blood Pressure: 140 and above/90 and above
• Hypertension crisis: higher than 180/higher than 120
• See a doctor right away

If your blood pressure is above the normal range, talk to your doctor about how to lower it.

Exact Causes of High Blood Pressure?

The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several things may play a role, including:

• Smoking
• Being overweight or obese
• Lack of physical activity
• Too much salt in the diet
• Too much alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day)
• Stress
• Older age
• Genetics
• Family history of high blood pressure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Adrenal and thyroid disorders
• Sleep apnea

What are the early warning signs of high blood pressure?

One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have high blood pressure don't know it. The only way to know if your high blood pressure is high is through regular checkups. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure.

In severe cases of high blood pressure when symptoms do appear, they may include:

·         Feeling confused or other neurological symptoms

·         Nosebleeds, blood in urine

·         Fatigue, severe headaches

·         Blurred vision

·         Chest pain, difficulty in breathing

·         Abnormal heartbeat

If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. You could be having a hypertensive crisis that could lead to heart attack or stroke.

Untreated hypertension can lead to serious diseases, including stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure and eye problems.

While high blood pressure may be one of the underlying causes, the focus is on the immediate event first, and then on long-term treatment of hypertension to further prevents strokes, heart attacks and other health conditions.

Treatments for high blood pressure

Treating high blood pressure can take a multi-pronged approach including diet changes, medication, and exercise.

Changing your lifestyle can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend you make lifestyle changes including:

·         Eating a heart-healthy diet with less salt.

·         Getting regular physical activity.

·         Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you're overweight or obese.

·         Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.

But sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough. In addition to diet and exercise, your doctor may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure.

Your blood pressure treatment goal should be less than 130/80 mm Hg if:

·         You're a healthy adult age 65 or older

·         You're a healthy adult younger than age 65 with a 10 percent or higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years

·         You have chronic kidney disease, diabetes or coronary artery disease

Although 120/80 mm Hg or lower is the ideal blood pressure goal, doctors are unsure if you need treatment (medications) to reach that level.

If you're age 65 or older, and use of medications produces lower systolic blood pressure (such as less than 130 mm Hg), your medications won't need to be changed unless they cause negative effects to your health or quality of life. It's helpful if you work together with a team of medical professionals experienced in providing treatment for high blood pressure to develop an individualized treatment plan.