High Blood Pressure(Hypertension): Symptoms, Causes, Risk factors, Treatment & Prevention

 

Without treatment, hypertension, or high blood pressure, can become dangerous. You run the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other issues if you have high blood pressure. Almost 50% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have it. Checkups are therefore essential. You can maintain appropriate blood pressure levels with medication, exercise, and dietary changes.

Also Read: 10 Home Remedies For High Blood Pressure

What is High blood pressure?

When the force of blood pressing against your artery walls is continuously too great, you have high blood pressure. Over time, this harms your arteries and can result in major issues like stroke and heart attack. Another term for this common condition is "hypertension."

Because high blood pressure typically doesn't show any symptoms, medical professionals refer to it as a "silent killer." Therefore, even though you may not be aware of any problems, your body nonetheless suffer harm.

The force or pressure of blood pressing against blood vessel walls is measured as blood pressure (BP).  The readings on your blood pressure are two:

 The systolic blood pressure, which is the highest figure, indicates the force exerted on your artery walls during a heartbeat or contraction.

 The lowest value shows diastolic blood pressure. When your heart is relaxing, this gauges the pressure on the walls of your arteries between beats.

 Medical professionals use millimeters of mercury (mmHg) to measure blood pressure.

What is considered high blood pressure?

Depending on where you live, there are slight variants in what constitutes high blood pressure. Healthcare professionals in the United States define hypertension, or high blood pressure, as:

• At least 130 mmHg for the top number (systolic blood pressure) and/or 80 mmHg for the bottom number (diastolic blood pressure).

• A minimum top value of 140 mmHg and/or 

Blood pressure is classified into four broad categories by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. Normal blood pressure is considered ideal.

• Normal blood pressure. There is less than 120/80 mm Hg of blood pressure.

• Elevated blood pressure. The bottom number is below, not over, 80 mm Hg, while the top number ranges between 120 and 129 mm Hg.

• Hypertension in stage 1. The bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg, and the top number is between 130 and 139 mm Hg.

• Hypertension in stage two. 140 mm Hg or more is the top number, while 90 mm Hg or more is the bottom number.

Symptoms:

Even when blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels, the majority of people with high blood pressure show no symptoms.  For years, you may have high blood pressure with no symptoms.

 Some hypertensive individuals may have:

•  Headache
•  Difficulty in breathing
•  Nosebleed
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision, or other abnormalities in vision
• Confusion, anxiety, and ear buzzing
• An irregular heartbeat

 These symptoms aren't particular, though.  They typically don't show up until high blood pressure has gotten to the point where it is dangerous or life-threatening.

Causes:

The amount of blood the heart pumps and the difficulty of the blood's passage through the arteries both affect blood pressure. Blood pressure rises when the heart pumps more blood and arteries get narrower.

High blood pressure can be divided into two distinct types.

Essential hypertension is another name for primary hypertension.

 High blood pressure in the majority of adults has no known cause. Primary hypertension or essential hypertension are terms used to describe this type of high blood pressure. It usually takes many years for it to develop gradually. Atherosclerosis, or plaque accumulation in the arteries, increases the risk of hypertension.

Secondary hypertension.

 An underlying disease is the source of this type of high blood pressure. Compared to primary hypertension, it usually manifests abruptly and raises blood pressure. Secondary hypertension can result from the following illnesses and medications:

• Tumors of the adrenal glands

• Congenital heart defects are blood vessel issues that exist from birth

• Prescription medications such as birth control pills, cough and cold remedies, and certain painkillers

• Illegal substances like amphetamines and cocaine

•  Kidney disease

• Adverse sleep apnea

• Problems with the thyroid

• Blood pressure might occasionally rise just by having a checkup. White coat hypertension is the term for this condition.

Risk factors:

Numerous risk factors for high blood pressure include:

• Age. As people age, their risk of high blood pressure increases. Males are more likely to have high blood pressure until they are around 64. After age 65, high blood pressure is more common in women.

• Race. Black people are especially prone to high blood pressure. Compared to white people, Black people experience it sooner in life.

• Family background. Having a parent or sibling with high blood pressure increases your risk of developing the condition yourself.

• Being overweight or obesity. Being overweight alters the kidneys, blood arteries, and other bodily organs. Blood pressure is frequently raised by these alterations. The risk of heart disease and related risk factors, such as excessive cholesterol, is also increased by being overweight or obesity.

• Not exercising. Weight gain might result from inactivity. Being overweight increases the risk of hypertension. Inactive people also typically have greater heart rates.

• Vaping or using tobacco. Blood pressure is instantly raised for a short period when smoking, chewing tobacco, or vaping. Smoking tobacco damages the walls of blood vessels and accelerates the artery-hardening process. Ask your caregiver for tips on quitting smoking if you smoke.

• Too much salt. The body may retain fluid if it contains an excessive amount of salt, often known as sodium. Blood pressure rises as a result.

• Low potassium levels. Potassium aids in regulating the body's cell salt content. A healthy potassium balance is essential for heart health. Low potassium levels can result from specific medical problems, such as dehydration, or a diet low in potassium.

• Excessive alcohol consumption. Increased blood pressure, especially in men, has been associated with alcohol consumption.

• Stress. A temporary rise in blood pressure might result from high amounts of stress. Stress-related behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating more can raise blood pressure even more.

• Several chronic diseases. High blood pressure can result from several conditions, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and sleep apnea.

• Pregnancy. Pregnancy can occasionally result in high blood pressure.

The majority of people with high blood pressure are adults. However, children can also have high blood pressure. Children's high blood pressure might be brought on by heart or kidney issues. However, lifestyle choices like eating poorly and not exercising are the cause of high blood pressure in an increasing proportion of children.

Complications:

High blood pressure can damage body organs and blood vessels by putting too much strain on the artery walls. The harm increases with blood pressure and the length of time it remains uncontrolled.

Complications from uncontrolled hypertension can include:

• Stroke or heart attack. A heart attack, stroke, or other issues may result from the arteries being thicker and harder as a result of high blood pressure or other circumstances.

• Aneurysm. An aneurysm can develop when a blood artery weakens and swells due to high blood pressure. Life-threatening consequences may result from an aneurysm rupture.

• Heart failure. The heart must work harder to pump blood when blood pressure is high. The heart's pumping chamber walls thicken as a result of the strain. The term left ventricular hypertrophy describes this condition. Heart failure develops when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's demands.

• Kidney issues. The kidneys' blood arteries may weaken or narrow as a result of high blood pressure. Damage to the kidneys may result from this.

• Problems with the eyes. Blood vessels in the eyes may thicken, narrow, or tear as a result of high blood pressure. This may cause a loss of vision.

• Metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is a collection of metabolic abnormalities. It involves the erratic breakdown of glucose, another name for sugar. Increased waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, decreased HDL (or "good") cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar are all symptoms of the syndrome. These illnesses increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

• Varies depending on recollection or comprehension. Uncontrolled hypertension can impair cognitive function, memory, and learning.

• Dementia. Blood flow to the brain may be restricted by narrowed or obstructed arteries. Vascular dementia is one kind of dementia that may result from this. Vascular dementia can also be brought on by a stroke that limits the flow of blood to the brain.

How is a diagnosis of hypertension made?

Using an arm cuff to measure blood pressure, medical professionals can identify high blood pressure. Your blood pressure is typically taken by providers at yearly physicals and other appointments.

Your doctor may diagnose you with high blood pressure if you receive high blood pressure readings at two or more appointments. To find potential causes, they will discuss your lifestyle and medical history with you.

 Treatment:

Treatments for high blood pressure include medication and lifestyle modifications. Based on your underlying diseases, the cause of your high blood pressure, and your blood pressure readings, medical professionals suggest treatment.

Changes to your lifestyle to reduce blood pressure
You might be asking if there is a natural way to lower blood pressure. Yes, you can lower your blood pressure without using medication in certain situations. For instance, if you have stage 1 hypertension or increased blood pressure, your doctor might advise beginning with lifestyle modifications.

Here are a few tried-and-true natural methods to reduce blood pressure:

• Maintain a healthy weight for yourself. You can acquire a goal range from your healthcare practitioner.

• Eat a diet that is healthy. The DASH diet is one example. This diet is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.

• Reduce your intake of salt. Your daily salt consumption should ideally be kept to a maximum of 1,500 mg. You might begin by cutting your daily dosage by at least 1,000 mg if this is too challenging for you at first.

• Consume adequate potassium. Ideally, you should get 3,500 to 5,000 mg daily from your diet rather than pills. Avocados, skin-on potatoes, and bananas are a few foods that are high in potassium.

• Exercise. To get started, ask your healthcare professional for advice. Generally speaking, begin slowly and increase your weekly exercise time to 150 minutes. Additionally beneficial is resistance training, such as using small weights.

• Don't drink too much. If you choose to consume alcoholic beverages, do so moderately.

 To lower your blood pressure, doctors may occasionally advise lifestyle modifications in addition to medicine.

Medicines that lower blood pressure

When beginning treatment, four classes of blood pressure medications are "first-line" (the most popular and effective):

• The angiotensin II hormone, which the body naturally utilizes to control blood pressure, is blocked from being produced by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Your blood blood vessels do not constrict when the medication inhibits angiotensin II.

• ARBs, or angiotensin II receptor blockers, block this hormone from attaching to blood vessel receptors. ARBs inhibit blood vessels from constricting in the same manner as ACE inhibitors.

• Calcium channel blockers allow your blood vessels and heart muscle cells to relax by preventing calcium from entering them.

• Diuretics, sometimes known as water or fluid pills, lower blood fluid levels by flushing out excess salt. Diuretics are frequently taken with other medications for high blood pressure, sometimes in a single dose.

To better control your blood pressure, your doctor may combine these first-line drugs with other prescriptions.

Discuss potential adverse effects with your healthcare physician. Contact your provider if you experience any side effects that worry you. They might try a new drug or alter your dosage. You shouldn't stop taking the medication by yourself.

Some medications should not be taken while pregnant. Therefore, if you are or may become pregnant, make sure to inform your healthcare professional.

Other medications are occasionally used to treat hypertension.

If using combinations of the above medications isn't helping you reach your blood pressure target, your doctor might recommend:

• Alpha blockers. These medications reduce blood vessel nerve signals. They aid in lessening the effects of organic substances that cause blood vessels to narrow. Alpha blockers include doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), and others.

• Alpha-beta blockers. Alpha-beta blockers reduce the heartbeat by preventing nerve signals from reaching blood vessels. As a result, less blood needs to be pumped through the vessels. Carvedilol (Coreg) and labetalol (Trandate) are examples of alpha-beta blockers.

• Beta-blockers. These medications widen the blood vessels and lessen the strain on the heart. This facilitates a slower and less forceful heartbeat. Atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL, Kapspargo sprinkle), and other medications are beta blockers. It is generally not advised to prescribe beta blockers as the sole medication. Combining them with other blood pressure medications may maximize their effectiveness.

• Aldosterone antagonists. Resistant hypertension may be treated with these medications. They prevent a natural substance that can cause the body to accumulate fluid and salt. Examples include eplerenone (Inspra) and spironolactone (Aldactone).

• Inhibitors of renin. Aliskiren (Tekturna) reduces the kidneys' synthesis of renin, an enzyme that initiates a series of chemical reactions that raise blood pressure. When taking aliskiren with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, you run the chance of experiencing serious health complications, such as stroke.

• Vasodilators. These medications prevent the arterial walls' muscles from contracting. By doing this, the arteries are kept from narrowing. Minoxidil and hydralazine are two examples.

• Agents with central action. These medications prevent the brain from instructing the nervous system to restrict blood arteries and raise heart rate. Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay), guanfacine (Intuniv), and methyldopa are a few examples.

Take blood pressure medications exactly as directed. Never stop taking blood pressure medication suddenly or miss a dosage. Rebound hypertension is a severe rise in blood pressure that can occur when certain, like beta blockers, are abruptly stopped.

Discuss potential remedies with your healthcare practitioner if you miss doses due to expense, side effects, or forgetfulness. Never alter your course of therapy without first consulting your provider.

Prevention:

Thankfully, there are steps you may take to lower your chance of getting high blood pressure. These consist of:

• Adhere to a healthy diet. Maintaining a normal blood pressure level requires taking this important step. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet places a strong emphasis on eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

• Reduce your salt intake. You should cut back on sodium in your diet to avoid hypertension. Aim to limit it to less than 1,500 mg per day.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight goes hand in hand with eating the right foods. Your blood pressure will drop to healthier levels if you lose extra weight through diet and exercise.

• Stay active. Physical activity like walking can help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure.

• Breathe deeply and slowly. To help you relax, practice taking calm, deep breaths. According to some studies, blood pressure can be lowered by combining mindfulness practices with slow, timed breathing (5 to 7 deep breaths per minute). There are tools to encourage deep, leisurely breathing. Device-guided breathing might be a viable non-pharmacological method for reducing blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. If you have high blood pressure and anxiety or are unable to handle standard treatments, it might be an excellent choice.

References:

• American College of Cardiology. New ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Guidelines Lower Definition of Hypertension (https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2017/11/08/11/47/mon-5pm-bp-guideline-aha-2017). Accessed 5/1/2023.

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About Hypertension (https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm). Accessed 5/1/2023.

• World Health Organization. Hypertension (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension). Accessed 5/1/2023.

• Natural medicines in the clinical management of hypertension. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Dec. 20, 2020.

• Whelton PK, Carey RM, Mancia G, Kreutz R, Bundy JD, Williams B. Harmonization of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension Blood Pressure/Hypertension Guidelines: Comparisons, Reflections, and Recommendations (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35950927/). Circulation. 2022;146(11):868-877. Accessed 5/1/2023.

• Hypertension in adults: Screening. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hypertension-in-adults-screening. Accessed July 18, 2022.

• Whelton PK, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Hypertension. 2018; doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065.

• U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What Is High Blood Pressure (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure). Accessed 5/1/2023.

• American Heart Association. What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer/what-are-the-symptoms-of-high-blood-pressure) Accessed 5/1/2023.

• Managing stress to control high blood pressure. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/managing-stress-to-control-high-blood-pressure. Accessed July 18, 2022.

• Basile J, et al. Overview of hypertension in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 22, 2022.