High blood pressure: Causes, symptoms, and treatments. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted against the walls of the arteries as blood flows through them. In medicine, chronic means for a sustained period; persistent. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that about two- thirds of people over the age of 6. U. S. These conditions include heart failure, vision loss, stroke, and kidney disease. The oxygen rich blood is then pumped by the heart around the body to supply our muscles and cells. The pumping of blood creates pressure - blood pressure. Nausea - a sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit. Vomiting - less common than just nausea. Dizziness - Lightheadedness, unsteadiness, and vertigo. Blurred or double vision (diplopia). Epistaxis - nosebleeds. Palpitations - disagreeable sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. Dyspnea - breathlessness, shortness of breath. ![]() Seven Day Healthy Meal Plan on the High Blood Pressure Diet DAY 1 Breakfast: Very Berry smoothie Lunch: Chicken Caesar Wrap Snack: Hummus and veggies. Who Gets High Blood Pressure? Up to the age of 45, more men have high blood pressure than women. It becomes more common for both men and women as they age, and more. High blood pressure (hypertension) is persistently high pressure in the arteries. Often no cause for high blood pressure can be identified, but sometimes it occurs as. High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most common health conditions in the world. Hypertension is high blood pressure, a very common condition in older adults. Blood pressure is the physical force exerted by the blood as it pushes against the walls. High blood pressure (hypertension) is generally considered to be a blood pressure reading greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg (systolic) or greater than or equal to 90. A cold glass of milk offers a solid serving of both calcium and vitamin D, nutrients that work as a team to help lower blood pressure by 3 to 10 percent. ![]() ![]() Blurred vision. Bell's palsy - inability to control facial muscles on one side of the face. Newborns and very young babies with high blood pressure may experience the following signs and symptoms. Failure to thrive. Irritability. Respiratory distress. ![]() ![]() High blood pressure (HBP), also called hypertension, is a silent disease sometimes with no symptoms for years. HBP symptoms may include chest pain, dizziness & tinnitus. Even if yours is normal, you should have it checked at least once every five years, and more often if you have any contributory factors. The extent of damage depends on two factors; the severity of the hypertension and how long it goes on for untreated. Heart attack - heart muscle dies due to a loss of blood supply. Heart failure - the heart struggles to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the whole body. This happens because after pumping blood against higher pressure into the blood vessels the heart muscle thickens. Blood clot - some blood converts from a liquid into a solid (thrombus). Some blood clots can cause serious complications. Aneurysm - a bulge forms on the wall of a vein, artery or the heart. The wall is weakened and may rupture. Kidney disease - hypertension often damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, resulting in kidneys that do not work properly. Eventually the kidneys can fail completely (kidney failure). Eyes (hypertensive retinopathy) - untreated hypertension can lead to thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes, which can lead to vision loss. Metabolic syndrome - this is a disorder of the body's metabolism, including an enlarged waistline, low blood HDL levels (the good cholesterol), hypertension, and high levels of insulin. If the patient has hypertension he/she is more likely to have other components of metabolic syndrome, significantly raising the risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Cognitive and memory problems - if the high blood pressure continues untreated the patient's ability to remember things, learn and understand concepts may be eventually become affected. ![]() Causes. When referring to the causes of high blood pressure, it is divided into two categories. Essential high blood pressure (primary high blood pressure) - no cause has been identified. Secondary high blood pressure - the high blood pressure has an underlying cause, such as kidney disease, or a specific medication the patient is taking. Most of the causes below are essential high blood pressure risk factors; there are also a couple of secondary high blood pressure examples. The older you are the higher your risk of having high blood pressure. An international scientific study identified eight common genetic differences that may increase the risk of high blood pressure. Blood pressure was lower when it got warmer, and rose when it got colder. However, after the age of 6. Smoking also reduces the blood's oxygen content so the heart has to pump faster in order to compensate, causing a rise in blood pressure. They found that systolic blood pressure levels are about 7 mm. Hg higher in frequent drinkers than in people who do not drink. However, most dietitians stress that the problem is not how much fat is consumed, but rather what type of fats. Saturated fats, which are common in animal- sourced foods, as well as trans fats, are bad for you. Mental stress. Various studies have offered compelling evidence that mental stress, especially over the long term, can have a serious impact on blood pressure. One study suggested that the way that air traffic controllers handle stress can affect whether they are at risk of developing high blood pressure later in life. Diabetes. People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing hypertension. Among patients with type 1 diabetes, high blood sugar is a risk factor for incident hypertension - effective and consistent blood sugar control, with insulin, reduces the long- term risk of developing hypertension. Psoriasis is an immune system condition that appears on the skin in the form of thick, red scaly patches. Pregnancy. Pregnant women have a higher risk of developing hypertension than women of the same age who are not pregnant. It is the most common medical problem encountered during pregnancy, complicating 2% to 3% of all pregnancies. Diagnosis. When we measure blood pressure, we gauge two types of pressure: Systolic pressure - the blood pressure when the heart contracts, specifically the moment of maximum force during the contraction. This happens when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. Diastolic pressure - the blood pressure between heartbeats, when the heart is resting and dilating (opening up, expanding). The figures usually appear with a larger number first (systolic pressure), followed by a smaller number (diastolic pressure). The figure will be followed by the abbreviation . It consists of an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the upper arm. When the cuff is inflated it restricts the blood flow. A mercury or mechanical manometer measures the pressure. For example, a manual sphygmomanometer is used together with a stethoscope. It is crucial that the size of the cuff is appropriate. If it is too small the reading will be inaccurately high; if it is too large the reading will be too low. The cuff is inflated until the artery is completely obstructed (occluded). The nurse, doctor, or whoever is doing the examination listens with a stethoscope to the brachial artery at the elbow and slowly releases the cuff's pressure (deflates it). As the cuffs pressure falls the examiner will hear a whooshing sound or a pounding sound when blood flow starts again. The pressure at the point when the sound began is noted down and recorded as the systolic blood pressure. The cuff is deflated further until no sound can be heard. At this point the examiner notes down and records the diastolic blood pressure. You can read our review of the best home blood pressure monitors currently available to buy. People's blood pressure can vary during the day, a visit to the doctor may spike the reading because the patient is anxious or stressed, having just eaten may also temporarily affect blood pressure readings. This may require three separate measurements one week apart - often the monitoring goes on for much longer before a diagnosis is confirmed. End- organ damage generally refers to damage to major organs fed by the circulatory system, such as the heart, kidneys, brain or eyes. If the doctor places the stethoscope on the side of the abdomen and hears the sound of a rush of blood (a bruit), it could be a sign of stenosis - a narrowing of an artery supplying the kidney. Protein or blood in urine may indicate kidney damage. High glucose in the blood may indicate diabetes. Exercise stress test - more commonly used for patients with borderline hypertension. This usually involves pedaling a stationary bicycle or walking on a treadmill. The stress test assesses how the body's cardiovascular system responds to increased physical activity. If the patient has hypertension this data is important to know before the exercise test starts. The test monitors the electrical activity of the heart, as well as the patient's blood pressure during exercise. An exercise stress test sometimes reveals problems that are not apparent when the body is resting. This test is more commonly used for patients at high risk of heart problems, such as hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels. The initial ECG is called a baseline. Subsequent ECGs may be compared with the baseline to reveal changes which may point to coronary artery disease or thickening of the heart wall. Holter monitoring - the patient carries an ECG portable device that is attached to electrodes on their chest for about 2. Echocardiogram - this device uses ultrasound waves which show the heart in motion. The doctor will be able to detect problems, such as thickening of the heart wall, defective heart valves, blood clots, and excessive fluid around the heart. Treatments. Treatment for high blood pressure depends on several factors, such its severity, associated risks of developing stroke or cardiovascular, disease, etc. Note that you should always check with a Doctor or healthcare professional to discuss lifestyle changes before making any dramatic changes yourself. If you embark on an exercise program you should see the benefits fairly soon - within a matter of two to three weeks, especially if you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle for a long time. Exercise needs to be tailored to the needs and health of the patient. Exercising at weekends and doing nothing from Monday to Friday will be much less effective. Some studies indicate it helps lower blood pressure, while others report the opposite. In very small amounts it may lower blood pressure. But if you drink too much, even moderate amounts regularly in some cases, blood pressure levels may go up. If you eat animal products make sure all the fat is trimmed and avoid processed meats. Study leader, Umed Ajani, an epidemiologist with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Promotion, said . The report estimated that 1. Americans - 7. 0% of the adult population - have one of three risk factors for hypertension. High Blood Pressure . High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your blood pressure is elevated over time. Left untreated, it can damage your small blood vessels and organs and lead to heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure and circulatory problems. Blood pressure is the amount of force your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries. Normal blood pressure effectively and harmlessly pushes the blood from your heart to your body's organs and muscles so they can receive the oxygen and nutrients they need. Blood pressure is variable—it rises and falls during the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, however, it is called high blood pressure or hypertension. According to the American Heart Association, about 8. Americans have high blood pressure. High blood pressure was a primary contributing cause of death for 3. Americans in 2. 01. Hypertension can occur in both children and adults, but it is more common in adults, particularly African Americans and the elderly. People with other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease are likely to become hypertensive. In addition, being overweight, drinking alcohol excessively (defined as more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women) and taking oral contraceptives may increase blood pressure. About half of Americans with high blood pressure are women. More men than women have hypertension, until women reach menopause, when their risk becomes greater than men's. About 3. 0 percent of women have high blood pressure. The first number is the systolic blood pressure, the pressure used when the heart beats. The second number, diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure that exists in the arteries between heartbeats. Depending on your activities, your blood pressure may increase or decrease throughout the day. If you are not acutely ill, are over 1. Hg or below systolic and/or 7. Hg or below diastolic (1. If your systolic blood pressure is 1. Hg systolic and/or your diastolic pressure is 8. Hg, you have prehypertension. This means that you don't have high blood pressure now but are more likely to develop it in the future, and you have increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other conditions related to hypertension. A blood pressure level of 1. Hg or higher is considered high. If you have had a heart attack, stroke or ministroke, or you have had a narrowing of the leg arteries or an abdominal aortic aneurysm, then you should aim to keep your blood pressure at 1. Hg or below. However, this goal is intended to be flexible, and experts caution that the newer goal may not be appropriate for older, frail patients who could get dizzy if their blood pressure drops too much. You have stage 1 hypertension if your systolic pressure is 1. If your systolic pressure is 1. Only one of the numbers needs to be above normal for a diagnosis of high blood pressure; that is, you can have isolated systolic or diastolic hypertension. An estimated two out of three people with hypertension over age 6. ISH). The cause of approximately 9. This type of hypertension is called primary or essential high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension is somewhat different because it represents all of the specific diseases that cause elevated blood pressure. It is important to diagnose this type of hypertension because the treatment differs from primary hypertension. While there is no cure for primary hypertension, it is easily detected and is usually controllable. Still, many people who suffer from high blood pressure don't know they have it, and people can have high blood pressure for years without knowing they have it. That's why high blood pressure has been called . Left untreated, hypertension can result in permanent damage to the small blood vessels of the body, which can damage organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys, leading to heart attacks, stroke and kidney failure. It can also cause acute or chronic circulatory problems. Elevated blood pressure levels significantly increase your risk for coronary heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. Consistent high blood pressure also increases your risk for congestive heart failure and can lead to other problems such as: Atherosclerosis: Plaque collects on the walls of hypertension- damaged blood vessels, which can eventually lead to blockages that may result in a stroke or heart attack. Although this plaque builds up for many reasons as you age, high blood pressure hastens the process. Eye damage: High pressure in blood vessels can cause tiny hemorrhages in the retina, the light- sensitive membrane in the back of your eye on which images are formed. If this happens, you may lose some of your vision. Heart enlargement or failure: There are two types of heart failure. In the first, the walls of the heart are weak and thin as a result of being stretched by increasing amounts of pooling blood in the heart. In the second, commonly seen in people with hypertension, the heart muscle enlarges in response to the higher pressure and increased workload. It becomes so big it begins to close off the ventricular chamber, decreasing the amount of blood that can fill the heart. This is called diastolic dysfunction, because the heart muscle can't relax normally and allow blood to fill the chamber. Kidney damage and failure: Hypertension causes arteries going to your kidneys to become constricted, making them less efficient at filtering waste from your body. According to the National Kidney Foundation, high blood pressure caused more than 3. United States in 2. African Americans are particularly at risk. Early treatment of hypertension can help prevent kidney damage. You should have your blood pressure checked whenever you see a health care professional. Because blood pressure can be variable, it should be checked on several days before a high blood pressure diagnosis is made. One elevated blood pressure reading doesn't necessarily mean you have high blood pressure, but it does warrant repeated measurements and means you have to watch your blood pressure carefully. Dietary and lifestyle changes may help you control high blood pressure. If you have mild hypertension, you may be able to lower your blood pressure by reducing the amount of sodium (salt) in your diet, reducing fat intake, eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables and low- fat dairy (such as the DASH diet) and reducing alcohol consumption. If you are overweight, losing weight may reduce your blood pressure. Increasing your physical activity, even if you don't lose weight, can also reduce blood pressure. For some people, lifestyle changes aren't enough to lower blood pressure. Luckily, high blood pressure can be successfully treated with long- term medication. Commonly prescribed drugs include diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), direct renin inhibitors (DRIs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), vasodilators, alpha- beta blockers, central- acting agents and alpha blockers. Because there is no cure for most hypertension cases, treatment generally must be carried out for life to prevent blood pressure from rising again. Many of these drugs are also available to treat ISH to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Causes of Hypertension. The 9. 0 percent to 9. Hypertension may also be a symptom of an identified problem (see below) thatgenerally corrects itself when the cause is corrected. This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension. Possible causes of secondary hypertension include: Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries leading to your kidneys)Adrenal gland disease (Cushing's disease) or adrenal tumors. Kidney disease Preeclampsia (hypertension and increased urine protein levels sometimes caused by pregnancy)Thyroid disease Other factors affecting blood pressure include: Use of birth control pills Psychologic stress Severe pain. Drug or alcohol withdrawal. Use of amphetamines, cocaine or other stimulants. Use of steroids. Overuse of nicotine nasal sprays, gum, patches and lozenges designed to help smokers kick the habit. Sleep apnea. Your health care professional should monitor your blood pressure if you are taking oral contraceptives. Your blood pressure should also be carefully monitored if you're pregnant, because some women develop preeclampsia- related hypertension during pregnancy. One of the leading causes of maternal death, preeclampsia is hypertension combined with protein in the urine and/or swollen hands and feet. It typically occurs after the 2. It can lead to premature and low- birth–weight babies. Diagnosis. Your health care professional should check your blood pressure at least once every two years, and more often if it's high. A high blood pressure diagnosis is usually based on at least the average of two or more readings per visit, taken at two different visits after an initial screening. The only way to properly check your blood pressure is to measure it with a device called a sphygmomanometer, commonly called a blood pressure cuff. This is a quick and painless test in which a rubber cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated. As the cuff inflates, it compresses a large artery, stopping the blood's flow through that artery. When your health care professional releases the air in the cuff, he or she can listen with a stethoscope for the blood to start flowing through your artery again. Your health care professional can watch the sphygmomanometer gauge to determine systolic pressure—the pressure when the first sound of pulsing blood is heard—and the diastolic pressure, the pressure when the last sound of pulsing blood is heard. In May 2. 00. 3, the NHLBI released updated clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, detection and treatment of high blood pressure. These guidelines added new blood pressure categories, including a . This prehypertension category alerts you to your real risk of high blood pressure.
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