High Blood Pressure Symptoms, Causes and Prevention

Overview

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a frequent illness where the blood’s long-term push against your artery walls is so great that it may eventually result in health issues including heart disease.

Blood pressure is influenced by both how much blood your heart pumps and how much resistance your arteries present to blood flow. Your blood pressure will increase as your arteries get more constricted and your heart pumps more blood. The measurement of blood pressure is in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). There are two of them.

1. Top digit (systolic pressure): The first figure, which is higher, represents the pressure created by your heartbeat in your arteries and
2. Lowest number (diastolic pressure): The second or lower number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats.

Years may go by while you have high blood pressure with no signs or symptoms. You run a higher risk of developing significant health issues, such as heart attack and stroke, if your high blood pressure is uncontrolled. Thankfully, elevated blood pressure is simple to spot. You can work with your doctor to control your blood pressure if you are aware that you have high blood pressure.

Symptoms

Even when blood pressure measurements are dangerously high, the majority of persons with high blood pressure show no signs or symptoms. Only a small percentage of people with high blood pressure have headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds, and these signs and symptoms typically don’t appear until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening level.

When to visit the doctor

During a typical doctor’s visit, your blood pressure will probably be taken.

Beginning at age 18, request a blood pressure check from your doctor at least every two years. Ask your doctor to take your blood pressure once a year if you are older than 40 or have a high risk of developing high blood pressure if you are between the ages of 18 and 39.

In general, blood pressure readings in both arms should be taken to see if there is a difference. It’s crucial to utilize an arm cuff that is the right size.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have other cardiovascular disease risk factors, your doctor may probably advise more frequent readings. Typically, blood pressure checks are performed on children 3 and older as part of yearly examinations.

If you don’t see your doctor frequently, you might be able to receive a free blood pressure check at a health resource fair or other venues in your neighborhood. Additionally, some shops have equipment that will measure your blood pressure for free.

Public blood pressure monitors, like those found at pharmacies, could be able to tell you useful things about your blood pressure, but they might also have some limits. The accuracy of these devices depends on a number of variables, including the right cuff size and optimal machine usage. For guidance on utilizing public blood pressure monitors, consult your doctor.

Causes

There are two types of high blood pressure.

1. Primary (essential) hypertension

For the majority of adults, high blood pressure has no known cause. Primary (essential) hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that often develops gradually over several years.

1. Secondary hypertension

Some individuals have elevated blood pressure as a result of an underlying ailment. Secondary hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that typically develops unexpectedly and raises blood pressure more than primary hypertension does. Secondary hypertension can result from a variety of medical conditions and drugs, such as: Obstructive snoring kidney illness Adrenal gland tumors thyroid issues such as: Certain blood vessel flaws are congenitally present at birth. Prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter painkillers, cold meds, decongestants, birth control pills, and other medications illicit substances like cocaine and amphetamines.

Complications

High blood pressure can harm your blood vessels and organs because it puts too much strain on the walls of your arteries. The harm increases when your blood pressure rises and remains uncontrolled for a longer period of time.

Uncontrolled hypertension can result in issues like:

Heart attack or stroke: A heart attack, stroke, or other difficulties can result from atherosclerosis, which is the hardening and thickening of the arteries. Aneurysm. Your blood arteries may weaken and swell as a result of high blood pressure, developing an aneurysm. A ruptured aneurysm may pose a risk to life.

Heart failure: The heart needs to work harder to pump blood against the greater pressure in your veins. The walls of the heart’s pumping chamber get thicker as a result (left ventricular hypertrophy). Heart failure can result if the thickened muscle eventually struggles to pump enough blood to meet your body’s demands.

Thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes: Loss of vision may come from this.

Metabolic syndrome: This syndrome is a collection of metabolic abnormalities in your body, including a bigger waist, higher triglyceride levels, lower HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), higher blood pressure, and higher insulin levels. Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are all illnesses that increase your risk of developing them.

Trouble with memory or understanding: Your capacity to think, remember, and learn may be impacted by uncontrolled high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure tend to have more difficulty remembering things or grasping concepts.

Dementia: One particular form of dementia can be brought on by narrowed or clogged arteries that reduce blood supply to the brain (vascular dementia). Vascular dementia can also be brought on by a stroke that cuts off the blood supply to the brain.

Treatment

Adapting your way of life can help you manage and control high blood pressure. Your doctor could advise making adjustments to your lifestyle, such as:

Consuming a salt-free, heart-healthy diet, performing regular exercise, Keeping your weight in check or, if you’re overweight or obese, decreasing weight, lowering your alcohol consumption.

But sometimes altering one’s way of life is insufficient. If diet and exercise are ineffective at lowering your blood pressure, your doctor can suggest taking medication.

Asian Plus Medical Center in Samakhusi, Kathmandu, Nepal checks Blood Pressure when conducting medical check ups. If you are around, stop by our building and ask for a free Blood Pressure check. Our staff will be happy to assist you.