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High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the major reasons for stroke or heart disease. Some of the risk factors leading to hypertension are obesity, high intake of alcohol, excessive smoking & also family history.

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Symptoms

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Almost 33% of the patients suffering from high blood pressure are not even aware of the fact that they have it. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of this disease.

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The only possible way to check if your blood pressure is normal, high or low is through routine checkups. It becomes more important to do so if you’ve got a close family member who suffers from high blood pressure.

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Some of the major symptoms to look out for are:

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  • Severe headache

  • Vision problems

  • Fatigue/confusion

  • Chest pain

  • Irregular heartbeat

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Blood in urine

  • Pounding in chest, ears or neck area

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If you’ve got any of the above mentioned symptoms, it’s time to see your doctor. Any further delay can cause serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, eye problems & even kidney failure.

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Types of High Blood Pressure

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Malignant Hypertension

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This condition causes sudden & rapid high blood pressure which can lead to organ damage. Normal blood pressure is defined as 120/80. But if an individual has a blood pressure above 180/120, then it is malignant hypertension & should be taken as a medical emergency.

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Besides the sudden rise in blood pressure, below listed are some medical conditions that can cause malignant hypertension:

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  • Missing doses of high blood pressure medications

  • Collagen vascular disease, such as scleroderma

  • Spinal cord injuries

  • Kidney disease

  • Adrenal gland tumor

  • Consumption of illegal drugs like cocaine

  • Certain medications like birth control pills & MAOIs

  • Symptoms of Malignant Hypertension

  • Swelling & bleeding in the retina’s tiny blood vessels

  • Changes in vision such as blurred vision

  • Difficulty in breathing

  • Chest pain (angina)

  • Dizziness

  • Severe headache

  • Numbness in legs, arms & face

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In most rare cases, it can also cause brain swelling, which further leads to hypertensive encephalopathy. It’s symptoms are:

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  • Blindness

  • Coma

  • Change in mental status

  • Drowsiness

  • Nausea & vomiting

  • Headache that keeps on getting worse

  • Seizures

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Secondary Hypertension

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High blood pressure can also be a result of other diseases. In such cases, it’s known as secondary hypertension. Once the root cause is found & treated, your blood pressure will either be significantly lowered or return to normal. Some of these diseases include:

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  • Chronic kidney disease

  • A tumor or other diseases related to adrenal gland

  • Sleep Apnea

  • Aorta Coarctation

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Reasons for secondary hypertension may include:

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  • Taking birth control pills

  • Pregnancy

  • Addiction to alcohol 

  • Thyroid dysfunction

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Renal Hypertension

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Also known as renovascular hypertension, it is caused by kidney disease. But it can be controlled by following proper medication. Stenting, angioplasty or surgery on kidney blood vessels are few ways that can help people with this condition.

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Causes of Renal Hypertension

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If the arteries that deliver blood to the kidney are narrowing down, it leads to renal hypertension, also known as renal artery stenosis.

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On receiving low blood flow, kidneys get the message that it is due to dehydration & then they release hormones to retain water & sodium. As a result, blood vessels get filled with additional fluid & it increases the blood pressure.

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Symptoms of Renal Hypertension

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Renal hypertension generally doesn’t have clear symptoms as patients can’t feel the narrowing in their arteries. However, some common symptoms are:

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  • Headache

  • Getting blurred or double vision

  • Nosebleed

  • Bloody/pink colored urine

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When to consult a doctor to get High Blood Pressure diagnosed?

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As high blood pressure doesn’t have clear symptoms, one must go through regular check-ups, especially individuals with a higher risk. This high-risk group includes:

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  • Individuals suffering from obesity/overweight

  • Individuals with a previous family history of high blood pressure

  • Individuals aged 40 years or above

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However, individuals aged 18 to 39 years who have normal blood pressure & others who don’t have other risk factors associated with them should get their check-ups done every 3 to 5 years.

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Complications Caused due to High Blood Pressure

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Atherosclerosis

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It is defined as plaque buildup in arteries. As the primary job of arteries is to supply blood to heart, the blockage often leads to coronary artery disease.

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Stroke

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A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is cut off & people who have hypertension are four to six times more likely to have a stroke.

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There are mainly two types of stroke caused by high blood pressure:

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  • Due to blocked blood flow

  • Due to bleeding around or in the brain

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Heart Disease

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It is the number one cause of death due to high blood pressure. Ischemic heart disease, heart failure & excessive thickening of the muscles in heart (left ventricular hypertrophy) are some of the diseases caused by high blood pressure.

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Diagnosis of High Blood Pressure
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Though there are different types of measuring devices available these days, the most common one used is a manual sphygmomanometer. It comes with a stethoscope & a pressure cuff that the doctor puts around patient’s arm.

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Blood pressure reading can be one of the following:

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  • Normal: 120/80 mm Hg.

  • Elevated: 120–129/80 mm Hg

  • Stage 1 Hypertension: 130–139/80–89 mm Hg

  • Stage 2 Hypertension: Over 140/90 mm Hg

  • Hypertensive Crisis: 180/120 mm Hg or above

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A patient with blood pressure 180/120 mm Hg or above needs immediate medical attention. However, it will require more than one blood pressure reading to confirm the diagnosis, as there are various factors that can affect the result.

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Some other tests that can help confirm a diagnosis are:

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  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)

  • Holter Monitoring

  • Echocardiogram

  • Urine & Blood Tests

  • Exercise Stress Test - in this test, blood pressure is measured before, during & after using a treadmill or stationary bicycle.

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Measuring High Blood Pressure
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There are basically two parts in blood pressure measurement:

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  1. Systolic Pressure: This is the blood pressure when the heart contracts.

  2. Diastolic Pressure: This is the blood pressure between heartbeats.

 

The normal range of blood pressure which is 120/80 mm Hg means that the diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg & systolic pressure is 120 mm Hg.

 
Managing your Blood Pressure
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Quit smoking, follow exercise regime & laugh your way to a healthy heart. Here’s a look into some helpful tips:

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DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet

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This diet includes the following:

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  • Eating low-fat dairy foods, fruits & vegetables

  • Cutting back on foods with higher cholesterol, trans fat & saturated fat

  • Eating poultry, fish, nuts & more whole grain foods 

  • Setting a limit on intake of sodium, sugar, sweets & red meats

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According to research, individuals following DASH diet managed to lower their blood pressure within a period of 2 weeks.

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Reduce Salt Intake

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  • Consume less sodium to lower down your high blood pressure. Start by:

    • Breaking the habit of using a table salt shaker (as it is about 40% sodium)

    • Shop for low-sodium cereals, canned vegetables, pasta sauces, etc.

    • Avoid using processed & packaged foods.

    • Add salt in the end while preparing food. You’ll need less salt this way.

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