Hypertension can be classified as primary and secondary. Primary or Essential hypertension means having a blood pressure higher than 140/90 without apparent causes. Genetics, ethnicity, and lifestyle factors have been identified as significant risk factors for primary hypertension. Long-term physical and mental stress can also cause the body to have persistently high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension results from preexisting conditions such as; Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, Kidney disorders, and metabolic conditions.
The main risk factors for hypertension include:
1. Obesity
2. Unhealthy Diet
3. Lack of physical activity
4. Smoking
5. Alcohol use
6. Family History
7. Co-morbid (Diabetes, Heart disease, kidney disease)
8. Family history
9. Genetics and ethnicity
10. Mental stress
11. Certain Drugs (therapeutic and recreational) and supplements
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension. An estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware of their condition. Less than half of the adult population (42%) with hypertension is diagnosed and treated. Approximately 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control. Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.[1]
Most people with high blood pressure show no symptoms, and a high blood pressure reading is often made incidentally or during screening. This is why getting your blood pressure checked periodically is so essential. Some people might have headaches, nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances, dizziness, and nose bleeding.
In the case of secondary hypertension, the symptoms of the disease that causes hypertensive changes in the body vary according to the choice. However, all chronic syndromes that involve multiple organ systems of the body often end in situations of multi-organ failure if left untreated.
The diagnosis of Hypertension is based on the monitoring of your blood pressure. A healthcare provider usually does this. The process starts with your doctor taking your medical history, followed by a medical examination. The first step of any medical examination is taking the vital signs, including pulse rate, Respiratory rate, temperature, and blood pressure. The health care provider will place an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge. Ideally, blood pressure should be measured from both arms to note any differences. It's important to use an appropriately sized arm cuff.
The treatment of hypertension includes a combination of lifestyle modifications, regular monitoring, and medications.
1. Diet: A low sodium, high potassium, and balanced diet are essential for preventing and treating hypertension.
2. Regular Physical Activity: Regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day and five days a week is imperative for leading a healthy life. It has both preventive and curative effects.
3. Stress-reducing activities: Activities like yoga, meditation, and listening to calming music have shown promising evidence for reducing blood.
4. Medications: Depending on the age, ethnicity, co-morbidities, physical conditions, various medications are available for the control and treatment of hypertension. Your doctor will decide the medicine that suits you the most. Once the drug has been initiated, your blood pressure will be monitored to study the effects.
Hypertension means increased pressure created by the heart, which has long-term effects on the blood vessels. The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It needs enough pressure to supply blood to every part of the body and push it back to the heart against gravity for a clean-up. This process is known as the cardiac cycle. The moment when the heart contracts to push blood is called Systole and is when the higher number in the blood pressure reading is recorded. Diastole is when the heart relaxes and coincides with the lower number recording during a blood pressure measurement. The measurement unit for recording blood pressure is millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Higher blood pressure is a combination of the force of the heart and the narrowness of the vessels it will travel through.