High Blood Pressure
The pressure exerted by the blood on the artery walls when the heart contracts and relaxes is what a person's blood pressure values indicate. Blood pressure is measured in mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and the normal reading is 120/80 mmHg where 120 refers to the systolic pressure and 80 refers to the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart pumps blood, i.e., when it contracts, whereas diastolic pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes, i.e., when the heart fills up with blood.
High blood pressure is mainly of two types, namely primary and secondary hypertension. Essential or primary hypertension is the most common type of hypertension that usually develops over many years and does not have any specific or demonstrable cause. Secondary hypertension forms only about 5 to 10 percent of high blood pressure cases and is caused by an underlying condition like kidney disease, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid disorders, or certain congenital heart defects. This type of hypertension occurs suddenly and tends to give rise to higher blood pressure as compared to primary hypertension. High blood pressure is a condition in which the blood pressure rises to 140/90 or more.
Hypertension is said to be a 'Silent Killer' because it does not usually cause symptoms and when left undetected, begins to damage the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. This damage can eventually lead to problems such as stroke, heart failure or kidney shutdown. The only way to know whether or not you have high blood pressure is by getting your blood pressure checked up regularly. People with very high blood pressure or sudden fluctuations in it can develop symptoms such as headache, fatigue, disorientation or confusion, visual disturbances, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and irregular heartbeats. The later that hypertension is detected, greater are the chances that organ damage will have already begun.
The pressure of the blood flow in the arteries is mostly determined by the volume of blood pumped by the heart and the resistance offered to blood flow in the blood vessels. A higher volume of blood requires greater effort on the part of the heart to pump it. As the volume of blood circulating through the blood vessels increases, the pressure on the arterial walls correspondingly increases. Any conditions that cause narrowing of blood vessels, increase the resistance to blood flow, and therefore raise the blood pressure.
Some of the risk factors that can lead to hypertension are obesity, sedentary lifestyle, alcoholism, smoking, and excessive consumption of salty and fatty food. Salt leads to fluid retention, thereby increasing the blood volume and consequently increasing the blood pressure. Saturated fats increase the resistance to blood flow by hardening the walls of the blood vessels. Stress is also known to cause hypertension due to the release of certain biochemical substances that cause cause constriction of the blood vessels.
High cholesterol levels in the blood lead to narrowing of the arteries by formation of fatty plaques on the walls of the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries due to their loss of elasticity with age or due to calcium deposition. Diabetes interferes with the ability of the kidneys to regulate the water content of the body. It also promotes high blood pressure by causing thickening of the vascular walls. A low dietary intake of potassium leads to imbalanced sodium levels in the body cells. Apart from these, age and heredity also play an important role in the development of hypertension.
Blood pressure is measured using an inflatable cuff that is placed around the upper arm and is attached to a pressure gauge that measures both the systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure. Usually, readings are taken on more than one occasion on different days and in different postures before the diagnosis is confirmed. The treatment plan varies according to the severity of the condition and its manifestations. This usually involves lifestyle changes such as losing excess weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and managing stress.
Dietary modifications such as restricting one's intake of salty and fatty foods, consuming more fruits and vegetables, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine often do the trick and normalize the blood pressure in a large number of cases. Various medications known as antihypertensives are available to lower the blood pressure, however, these should be used only when attempts to control the blood pressure naturally fail to yield the desired results. Never try to medicate yourself. Always consult your doctor before you start, change, or stop taking any medicine for your blood pressure or its associated complaints.
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