Hypertension

Definition of Hypertension

Hypertension disease is defined as when a persons blood pressure is constantly higher than the recommended level. The United Kingdom hypertension statistics make for alarming reading, with approximately one quarter of the adult population suffering from this condition, which has been labelled as ‘the silent killer’.

If you have undetected high blood pressure, you run the risk of developing serious complications, including a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Over an extended period of time it can cause the heart to become enlarged, or it’s ability to pump blood around the body to become less effective, which is known as heart failure. Other organ damage may result, such as kidney failure or eye damage.

Because Hypertension symptoms are rarely noticeable, and seldom make people actually feel unwell, the only way of knowing whether or not you may be suffering from it is to have your blood pressure tested regularly. A worrying statistic is that over a third of people with hypertension remain undiagnosed and are not receiving treatment for it, and this is putting their heart health and life at risk.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is caused by the pumping action of the heart forcing the blood to flow through the arteries (which are the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the rest of the body). A certain amount of pressure in the arteries is normal and is necessary for normal circulation. However, if the blood pressure becomes consistently too high it becomes a health hazard, as it can damage the arteries, by causing them to thicken and become less elastic. This, in turn, limits the flow of blood and may cause permanently raised blood pressure.

What causes Hypertension?

In over 90% of cases there is no single underlying cause for elevated blood pressure. However there are certain known hypertension risk factors which should be avoided, as they can all contribute to the hypertension cause. The major risk factors are :-

• Drinking too much alcohol
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating too much salt
• Not doing enough exercise
• Not eating enough fruit and vegetables
• excessive anxiety
• Certain types of medications – your doctor will always ask you if you are taking any type of medication when you visit

High blood pressure can also be hereditary, as it does tend to occur in families, and in a very small number of cases it can be attributed to a single cause, such as kidney disease.

How do I know if I have hypertension ?

There are few symptoms of hypertension, so potential hypertension patient education is very important. All adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years, but preferably more often, especially as you get older, as blood pressure usually rises with age. Hypertension diagnosis will usually be given by your physician.

Your doctor will know your medical history, and will make the diagnosis from a succession of blood pressure readings. This is given as two numbers, which represent millimetres of mercury or mmHg.

The first number is called the systolic pressure, which is the force of the blood as the heart contracts to pump it around the body.

The second number is called the diastolic pressure, which is the force while the heart is relaxing and filling with blood again in preparation for the next contraction.

A normal reading for an adult should generally be no higher than 140/85mmHg. People with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, should aim for a blood pressure even lower than this – around 130/80mmHg or below.

Several readings should be taken over a period of time to get an accurate measurement as blood pressure can fluctuate and one high reading does not necessarily mean a person has hypertension.

Is there a cure or treatment for Hypertension ?

Hypertension cure may be a misleading term. If you have high blood pressure, it is essential to control it, but this will require constant vigilance and treatment on your part. But this will pay big health dividends, as reducing your blood pressure by 5mmHg can lower your risk of having a heart attack by about 20%. There are many lifestyle changes a person can make to reduce their risk of hypertension or help to lower their blood pressure if it is already high. To reduce your blood pressure, or prevent it from getting high, you can follow some or all of the following hypertension guidelines :-

• Do more physical activity
• Keep to a healthy weight
• Cut down on your salt intake
• Cut down on alcohol
• Eat more fruit and vegetables
• learn to control your anxiety and stress levels

Also your doctor may prescribe hypertension drugs to help reduce your blood pressure and protect your heart. Various types of hypertension medications are available to help lower blood pressure, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. Doctors and heart specialists often prescribe a combination of these.

Whilst Smoking is not a direct risk factor for high blood pressure, it does increase the chance of suffering a heart attack, heart failure or a stroke. If you quit smoking, then within two years, your risk of suffering a heart attack is halved.