If you have continuous severe headaches and recurrent nose bleedings. Or your heartbeat is never regular or have recurrent chest pains, you might be in deep trouble. The apparently harmless numbers on your sphygmomanometer, if not controlled can take your life. Hypertension is a silent killer but various treatments of high blood pressure are available.
Hypertension is a medical condition marked by usually high force of blood against your arteries. The force is high enough that it can eventually cause serious health complications. Blood pressure has two determining factors; the amount of blood pumped by your heart and the resistance to the blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure will be.
Occasionally elevated blood pressure should not be confused with hypertension. It is also important to know that hypertension can also exist without showing any prominent signs and symptoms. This is called “resistant hypertension”. You can have hypertension for years and still be unaware of it.
Hypertension might seem like a harmless issue but it can give rise to issues that can be fatal. This makes it worthy of a doctor’s attention. If you have hypertension or are afraid that you might have it, consult the best general physician in Lahore through Marham.
Approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide are hypertensive and about 2/3 of such people reside in developing or low economic countries. To get a better idea of the prevalence of hypertension, consider every 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women also hypertensive This generalization has been made by WHO.
Stages Of Hypertension
Normal blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg.
- High Blood Pressure: If your systolic pressure is ranging from 120 to 129 mm Hg and diastolic pressure is below 80 mm Hg, your blood pressure is elevated. If you fail to control your elevated blood pressure, it will get serious and worsen over time.
- Stage 1 hypertension: It is marked by a systolic pressure of 130-139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg.
- Stage2 hypertension: It is characterized by a systolic pressure of 140 mg or higher and diastolic pressure between 80-89 mm Hg.
- Hypertensive crisis: Extremely high levels of blood pressure, higher than 180/120 mm Hg are categorized as hypertensive crises. This is an emergency situation and requires urgent medical care.
It is important to take several blood pressure readings to be diagnosed as a hypertensive patient.
Symptoms Of Hypertension
Most people with high blood pressure fail to notice any signs or symptoms. But if you notice continuous headaches, shortness of bread, or nose bleedings, you should get your blood pressure checked. Keep in mind that symptoms vary from person to person and they aren’t specific until the disease reaches toxic levels.
Causes
The cause of hypertension depends upon the type of it.
- Primary or essential hypertension
This develops over a long period of time. And there is no identifiable cause of this type of hypertension.
- Secondary hypertension
This is marked by high blood pressure as a result of some other underlying medical condition. Secondary hypertension usually appears suddenly and elevates blood pressure more than primary hypertension. Medical issues like obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, thyroid problems, and congenital issues with blood vessels can cause secondary hypertension. Certain medications and illegal drugs can also lead to secondary hypertension.
Complications of High Blood Pressure:
If you have hypertension you are more prone to stroke, heart failure, constricted blood vessels in your kidneys, memory disorders, dementia, metabolic syndrome, and aneurysm.
Treatment of hypertension
– Lifestyle modifications
Hypertension can be treated by simple lifestyle changes.
- If your blood pressure does not get very high, you can control it by making dietary and physical changes
- Eat less salt. because sodium is the primary culprit behind elevated blood pressures.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. People with hypertension are at a greater risk of heart disease and stroke therefore it is important to protect your heart if you are hypertensive.
- Increase physical activity. Physical activity holds an eminent spot in the life of a hypertensive patient.
- Lose weight if required. Like in most other diseases obesity aggravates blood pressure too. If you are overweight or obese it is important to lose weight.
- Maintain weight. If you have healthy body weight, it is important to maintain it. Even the slightest amount of weight gain can increase your blood pressure.
- Limit your alcohol. Alcohol can heighten your blood pressure drastically.
Although diet and exercise help a bundle, sometimes these are not enough and your doctor might recommend some medications.
-Medications
If you fail to control your blood pressure with lifestyle modifications you will have to take special medicines for it. The type of medicine depends upon the level of your blood pressure and other illnesses you might have. It is better to take two or more types of medicines rather than one.
It is important to know that everyone has their own blood pressure goal, and this goal is usually defined by the doctor.
The common medications used for blood pressure are
1. Diuretics
These help in eliminating sodium and water and hence lower blood pressure. This can cause excessive urination which causes discomfort and may result in low blood pressure.
2. Calcium Channel Blockers
These help in relaxing the muscles of your heart and can also lower your heart rate. These are best for older people and can lower the risk of stroke.
It is better to avoid grapefruit and its products when taking calcium channel blockers. It increases blood levels of certain calcium channel blockers which can be dangerous. Visit Marham Find a Doctor to consult with the best doctor online.
