Symptoms of high blood pressure, causes, diagnosis, how to treat it

High blood pressure or hypertension happens when the force of blood pushing through the blood vessels (arteries) stays too high, putting stress on the heart muscle to pump blood.

High blood pressure is common worldwide, and a person might be more likely to get it due to genetics, age, or certain health conditions. Treatment options include medicines and lifestyle changes.

In this article, we will learn what high blood pressure is, how to understand high readings, its symptoms, causes, and how to treat it.

What is high blood pressure Hypertension?

Narrow blood vessels (arteries) create more resistance against blood flow. The narrower the vessels, the greater the resistance. Over time, this increased pressure causes health problems, including heart disease.

Actually, high blood pressure is common. Almost half of adults can be diagnosed with it. It develops over several years and usually shows no symptoms, which can cause damage to blood vessels and organs like the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys.

So early detection of high blood pressure is really important. Regular blood pressure readings can help both the person and doctor notice changes, aiding early diagnosis and treatment.

How to understand blood pressure readings

Blood pressure is measured in mmHg, and there are two numbers to understand a blood pressure reading, which are:-

• Systolic pressure:- Systolic pressure or the top number shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps blood.
• aDiastolic pressure:- Diastolic pressure or the bottom number shows the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.

The following table includes blood pressure readings:-

The previous table shows five blood pressure readings for adults, which are:-

1. Healthy blood pressure:- Healthy blood pressure reading is less than 80/120 mmHg.

2. Slightly high blood pressure:- Slightly high blood pressure is when the systolic number is 120 - 129 mmHg, and the diastolic number is less than 80 mmHg. Usually, high blood pressure is not treated with medication here, but the doctor may recommend some lifestyle changes to help lower the numbers.

3. Stage one of high blood pressure:- High blood pressure is stage one when systolic pressure is between 130 - 139 mmHg, or diastolic pressure is between 80 - 89 mmHg.

4. Stage two of high blood pressure:- High blood pressure is stage two when systolic pressure is 140 or above mmHg, or diastolic pressure is 90 or above mmHg.

5. Hypertensive crisis:- Hypertensive crisis happens when systolic pressure is over 180 mmHg, or diastolic is over 120 mmHg. Blood pressure in this range needs immediate medical care. Some symptoms may appear that require emergency room attention, Like:-

• Chest pain.

• Shortness of breath.

• Severe headache.

• Vision changes.

Symptoms of Hypertension

High blood pressure is generally a silent condition, so many people may not have any symptoms, and it can take many years for the case to reach a high enough level to show clear symptoms.

Severe high blood pressure symptoms can include the following:-

• Flushing and glowing face.

• Blood spots in the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage).

• Severe dizziness.

Also, according to the American Heart Association, unlike popular belief, severe high blood pressure usually doesn’t cause nosebleeds or headaches unless the person is in a hypertensive crisis.

The best way to know if someone has high blood pressure is by getting regular blood pressure readings. These are available at most doctor’s clinics and pharmacies, so it’s important to check blood pressure every time you visit the doctor for anything.

Additionally, a doctor might recommend getting blood tests twice a year for people with a family history of heart disease or risk factors for the condition. This helps the doctor catch any problems early before they get worse.

Causes of High Blood Pressure Hypertension

There are two types of high blood pressure, each with a different main cause, and they are:-

1. Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension (essential high blood pressure) develops over time. Most people with high blood pressure have this kind.

Usually, a group of factors plays a role in developing primary high blood pressure, which can include:-

• Genes:- Some people have a genetic tendency to high blood pressure, which could be due to gene mutations or hereditary defects passed from parents.

• Age:- People over 65 years old are most at risk of getting high blood pressure.

• Race:- Black-skinned people have a higher risk of getting high blood pressure.

• ObesityObesity can cause some heart problems, including high blood pressure

• Sedentary lifestyleLow levels have been linked Physical fitness to high blood pressure.

• Some diseasesPeople diagnosed with the disease Diabetes or Metabolic syndrome They're the most likely to have high blood pressure.

• Sodium:- There is a link between eating a lot of sodium (salt) every day, (more than 1.5 grams daily), and high blood pressure.

2. Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension often develops quickly and can be more serious than primary or essential hypertension.

There are many cases that can cause secondary high blood pressure, which include:-

• Kidney disease.

• Sleep apnea.

• Congenital heart defects.

• Thyroid problems.

• Side effects of some medications.

• Adrenal gland problems.

• Some neuroendocrine tumors.

• Chronic alcohol consumption.

Hypertension diagnosis

Diagnosing high blood pressure can be simple, like measuring blood pressure, which most doctor clinics and even pharmacies offer. If the reading shows high blood pressure, the doctor might ask for more readings over a few days or weeks because it's rare to diagnose hypertension from one reading alone.

Also, if high blood pressure remains, the doctor will likely run more tests to rule out other health issues, andThese tests can include the following:-

• Cholesterol test cholesterol, and other blood tests.

• EKG or ECG heart electrical activity test.

• Home blood pressure monitor to track blood pressure over 24 hours.

These tests can help the doctor find any other problems that might cause high blood pressure, and also check the impact high blood pressure may have on body organs.

Treatment options for high blood pressure hypertension

Many factors help the doctor decide the best treatment for someone with high blood pressure. These include the type of hypertension they have and the causes identified for it.

Treatment options for high blood pressure can include the following:-

- Treatment options for primary or essential high blood pressure

If the doctor diagnoses a person with primary or essential high blood pressure, lifestyle changes alone may help reduce it. If that's not enough, the doctor might prescribe some medications.

- Treatment options for secondary high blood pressure

If the doctor finds an underlying problem causing the high blood pressure, the treatment will focus on that problem. For example, if there is

a medication taken for a certain health condition that causes high blood pressure, the doctor may suggest an alternative.

High blood pressure treatment plans often change because what worked at first might become less effective over time. The doctor will keep working with the person to improve the treatment.

- Medications

Many people go through trial and error with blood pressure meds. The doctor may need to try different drugs until finding one or a combination that fits the person.

Some of the medications used to treat high blood pressure include:-

• Beta-blockers.

• Diuretics.

• ACE inhibitors.

• Angiotensin receptor blockers.

• Calcium channel blockers.

• Alpha-2 agonists.

Home treatments for hypertension.

Lifestyle changes can help control the factors causing high blood pressure. Here are some of the most common changes that include:

• Following heart-healthy diets.

• Increasing physical activity.

• Reaching a healthy weight.

• Managing stress and tension.

• Quitting smoking.

Article source.