What is Hypertension or High blood pressure?
Normally, blood circulation throughout the body is happening due to the pump of heart. Arteries walls continuously get some pressure from the circulating blood when it passes through the arteries. When this blood pressure is higher than the normal that means above these ranges, (120-139) mm Hg/(60-89) mm Hg, known as Hypertension or High blood pressure.
Keep in mind that blood pressure is showing different reading at different times, even not same like another reading of the same day. However, two numbers are using to measure the Blood Pressure - Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure.
How many types of hypertension have?
There are mainly two types of high blood pressure:
1. Primary or essential hypertension: This is appeared in most people without any specific reason and can start from the age 35 years on average.
2. Secondary hypertension: This is happening due to have different diseases inside body and typically observe in middle age.
What are the Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure?
Whenever heart pumps, two things are always occurring during this pumping- Contraction and Relaxation. So, the contraction of the blood vessel produces pressure on the arteries walls which is known as Systolic blood pressure, whereas, the relaxation of the blood vessel creates pressure which is so called Diastolic blood pressure.
What are the normal ranges of Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure?
The normal ranges for Systolic Blood Pressure are 120 mm Hg to 139 mm Hg, and the normal ranges for Diastolic Blood Pressure are 60 mm Hg to 89 mm Hg. However, when blood pressure is showing above these ranges considering as Hypertension (Systolic ≥ 140 mm Hg & Diastolic ≥90 mm Hg). The standard blood pressure is counted as 120mmHg / 80mmHg (See the below tables).
According
to the American Heart Association Guideline:
|
Level |
Systolic Blood pressure |
Diastolic Blood pressure |
|
Normal |
Less
than 120 mmHg |
Less
than 80 mmHg |
|
Elevated |
120-129
mmHg |
Less
than 80 mmHg |
|
High
Blood Pressure (Hypertension) |
130
mmHg or higher |
80
mm Hg or higher |
According
to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee:
|
Level |
Systolic Blood pressure |
Diastolic Blood pressure |
|
Normal |
Less
than 120 mmHg |
Less
than 80 mmHg |
|
At
Risk (Prehypertension) |
120-139
mmHg |
80-89
mmHg |
|
High
Blood Pressure (Hypertension) |
140
mmHg or higher |
90
mmHg or higher |
Another
report shows:
|
Level |
Systolic Blood pressure |
Diastolic Blood pressure |
|
Normal |
Less
than 130 mmHg |
Less
than 80 mmHg |
|
Stage
I Hypertension (Mild) |
130-139
mmHg |
80-89
mmHg |
|
Stage
2 Hypertension (Moderate) |
140
mmHg |
90
mmHg |
|
Hypertensive
Crisis (Get
emergency care) |
180
mmHg or higher |
120
mmHg or higher |
What are the general symptoms of high blood pressure?
In most cases, the signs or symptoms are not burst out to people who are suffering from hypertension immediately at the beginning of this problem which is also well familiar to individuals as silent killer. That is why just after 30 years onwards, everybody should check the Blood pressure on regular basis to avoid the serious complications of the body vital organs especially, heart, kidney, brain etc. The common symptoms are as follows
- Weakness or fatigue
- Sweating
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Dilemma or confusion
- Abnormal Heart Beats and heart palpitations
- Blurry or not clear vision
- Headache and fainting
- Tinnitus or ringing of the air
- Bleeding from nose
- Breathing frequently
- Brushing
- Muscle cramps
- Chest pain or congestion
What are the causes for Hypertension?
Hypertension usually occurs over time after passing a long stressful and sedentary lifestyle without performing daily physical exercise. This is also happened if any of the family members have hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
In case of women during pregnancy, gestational hypertension is very common and can be appeared just after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Along with this, Preeclampsia can occur during pregnancy which is also an indicator of hypertension.
On the other hand, some diseases such as, chronic kidney problems, Diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, Hyperthyroidism, Pheochromocytoma, and some habits, for example, high intake of salt, drink too much alcohol, do smoking more, even over weight or obese people have a greater risks to develop hypertension.
Some African-Americans ethnic individuals are more tends to develop hypertension than native Americans and other ethnic societies.
What are the Effects of Hypertension on our body if it is not treated or controlled for long time?
If blood pressure increases, it affects different vital parts of our body, especially heart damage, kidney failure, brain stroke, eyes and so on. When the blood pressure elevates, immediately arteries become rigid, declining the blood flow as well as oxygen level to the heart which ultimately leads to the following problems:
- Angina or chest pain
- Heart attack (blood supply becomes blocked and heart muscle cells die because of having oxygen insufficiency in blood) or Heart Failure (Heart is not in a condition to pump enough blood to the vital organs)
- Abnormal heart beat
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Stroke (Brain Cells die) which expresses some symptoms like disorganized speech, steps, loss of own control etc.
- Eyes problems, most importantly, blindness can happen due to the hypertensive retinopathy.
- Kidney failure due to develop the chronic kidney problem which causes to filter body fluid very low or no at all.
- Vascular dementia
- Cerebral Aneurysm
- Limit (not more than 5g) or no intake of salt at all
- Quit Smoking or reduce drinking alcohol
- Do working out on regular basis and trying to be physically active
- Eat healthy foods which containing low trans fat or salt.
- Eat fresh vegetables and fruits daily.
- Try to maintain body weight according to BMI
- Check your BP daily and take necessary measures if necessary.
- Have to know how to handle the stress readily.
- Take the medications timely and regular basis.
- Treat other health conditions properly.
- Get in touch with the healthcare professional to manage emergency situation.