High blood Pressure symptoms, causes, diagnosis & treatment

What is High Blood Pressure?

What is High Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is a measure of the force that your blood applies to the walls of your arteries as it flows through them. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, it is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, and to the development of heart failure. High blood pressure is often called a ‘silent disease’ because you usually don't know you have it.

In the early 1900s, it was assumed that headaches were more common among people with high blood pressure. However, research into the subject doesn't support this view. Research of one study, people with high blood pressure seems to have significantly fewer headaches than the common population.

About Blood pressure

Blood pressure is an essential part of the way your body works. When blood pressure is measured, there are two numbers for each reading: for example, "120 over 80" is written as 120/80. This is because each heartbeat sends a pressure wave through the bloodstream.  Your blood carries oxygen and nutrients around your body and is pumped by your heart. Your blood is under pressure as a result of the pumping action of your heart and the size and flexibility of your arteries, which carry your blood.

Read on to find out more about Hypertension / High blood Pressure symptoms, causes, diagnosis & treatment.

Symptoms of Blood Pressure

Most people with high blood pressure don't have any symptoms, so you may only find out you have high blood pressure by having it checked. If you have very high blood pressure, or your blood pressure rises quickly, you may have headaches, problems with your vision, fits or black-outs.

• Fatigue or confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds
•  Severe headache
• Severe anxiety
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blood in the urine
• Pounding in your chest, neck or ears

Symptoms Risk Factors

Although the exact cause of hypertension (high blood pressure) is unknown, there are several factors and conditions that may increase risk. These are:

• Overweight and obesity
• Smoking
• Little or no exercise
• Too much salt in the diet
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Stress
• Ethnic background (black person of African or Caribbean descent or of South Asian descent)
• Family history of high blood

 Causes High Blood Pressure

The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several factors and conditions may play a role in its development, including:

• Smoking
• Overweight or obese
• High cholesterol
• Lack of physical activity
• Too much salt in the diet
• Too much alcohol
• Stress
• Older age
• Genetics
• Family history of high blood pressure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Adrenal and thyroid disorders

Diagnosis of High blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure can vary somewhat from person to person according to many factors. What's in the high-normal range for one person may be considered high in a person with diabetes, for example.

However, The National Heart Foundation offers a general guide:

Normal blood pressure	generally less than 120/80 mmHg
Normal-to-high blood pressure	between 120/80 and 140/90 mmHg
High blood pressure	140/90 mmHg or higher
Very high blood pressure	180/110 mmHg or higher

Tests will be ordered to check for causes of high blood pressure and to assess any organ damage from high blood pressure or its treatment. These tests may include the following:

• Blood tests including measurement of electrolytes, blood urea, and creatinine levels (to assess kidney involvement)
• Lipid profile for levels of various kinds of cholesterol
• Special tests for hormones of the adrenal gland or thyroid gland
• Urine tests for electrolytes and hormones

A noninvasive, painless eye examination with an ophthalmoscope will look for ocular damage.

Ultrasound of the kidneys, CT scan of the abdomen, or both may be done to assess damage or enlargement of the kidneys and adrenal glands.

Any of the following may be performed to detect damage to the heart or blood vessels:

• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• A plain chest x-ray
• Doppler ultrasound

 

Medicines

If your blood pressure stays high, your GP may prescribe you one or more of the following antihypertensive medicines:

• ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. It help you to relax and widen the walls of your blood vessels by reducing the production of hormones that cause your blood vessels to tighten
• Calcium-channel blockers. It helps you widen your blood vessels by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessel walls
• Diuretics. It help you to increase the amount of water and salt removed from your blood by your kidneys - lowering the volume of your blood which reduces blood pressure
• Beta-blockers. It reduce the work your heart has to do by reducing your pulse rate and the force of contraction of your heart at rest and when you exercise
• Alpha-blockers. It helps you to widen your blood vessels by relaxing the muscles in the blood vessel walls.

The medicines your GP prescribes will depend on a number of factors, including your age and any other medical conditions you may have and medicines you may be taking. It may take time to find the best treatment for you; one that balances benefits against any side effects.

Treatment High blood Pressure

Making lifestyle adjustments is key to maintaining normal blood pressure. Most doctors will suggest lifestyle changes before prescribing medicines.

Self-help

Your GP, nurse or carer will talk to you about lifestyle changes which might help. For example, they may advise you to:

• stopping smoking
• Eat healthily
• Maintain your diet
•  Low-fat and salt
• Eat Fruit and vegetables
• Avoid alcohol
• cutting down on coffee ,high-caffeine drinks, such as cola
• Taking regular exercise
• Losing any excess weight

It may also help, where possible, to reduce stress in your life to prevent short-term rises in blood pressure  you could try relaxation techniques or meditation.

Prevention of High Blood Pressure

Your diet, exercise levels and weight have a real effect on your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you can start lowering blood pressure today by eating more healthily and being more active.

•  Maintaining a healthy weight.
•  Eat fruit and vegetables
•  Getting regular exercise
•  Reducing salt intake
•  Avoid drinking alcohol
•  Reducing stress
•  Use Potassium
•  Take Calcium

It is important for people to know their blood pressure in mm Hg and the importance of keeping it controlled. The evidence suggests that even a small increase in blood pressure can cause a significant change in life expectancy.