High blood pressure is a medical condition in which an elevated pressure gets created due to the action of pumping blood by the heart against the resistance offered by the blood vessels.
Primary hypertension which has no specific identifiable cause attributable to the condition. This type of hypertension is more common and develops gradually over a period.
Secondary hypertension which has a specific identifiable cause attributable to the condition. This type of hypertension is relatively less common and it develops suddenly. There are various causes leading to secondary hypertension viz.:-
Kidney abnormalities
Adrenal gland tumors
Certain congenital heart defects
Certain medications like decongestants, cold remedies, birth control pills and over the counter pain relievers
Risk factors for hypertension which cannot be controlled may include age, being men, menopause and a positive family history.
The other risk factors which can be controlled are stress, high alcohol intake, excess sodium salt in diet, too low vitamin D and potassium in diet, being physically inactive, being obese or overweight and certain chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease or sleep disorders.
Pregnancy may also lead to high blood pressure, a condition called Gestational Hypertension.
Normally high blood pressure is seen in adults but in some cases high blood pressure may be seen in children also. It may be due to heart or kidney problems.
There may not be any symptoms even at highest possible blood pressure levels.
In some people there may be dizzy spells, dull headaches and increased frequency of nose bleeds at the advanced or life threatening high blood pressure level.
The condition of high blood pressure can be diagnosed by measuring blood pressure by inflatable arm cuff and a pressure measuring gauge. At least two to three blood pressure reading taken at two more separate appointments are used for the diagnosis of high blood pressure.
Sometimes it is possible to have high blood pressure readings during hospital visit in such cases blood pressure measurement at home or at work place is done. They are also considered in the diagnosis.
If high blood pressure is diagnosed then other tests are recommended like blood test, urine test and electrocardiogram (ECG).
Based on the values of blood pressure the high blood pressure is categorized. The categories are normal blood pressure, pre hypertension, stage I hypertension and stage I hypertension.
Lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise together with medications help to regulate high blood pressure. The main drugs used for high blood pressure are Thiazide diuretics. Other medications are Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers, Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, Renin inhibitors, Alpha blockers, Alpha-Beta blockers, vasodilators and central acting agents.
With lifestyle modifications and medications high blood pressure can be controlled well. In absence of these things organ damage and in extreme cases death may occur.
High blood pressure can cause damage to arteries and other body organs. High blood pressure can cause aneurysm, blockage or rupture of blood vessel in brain, heart failure, thickening or narrowing of the eye blood vessel (which may result in vision loss), memory and understanding problems and metabolic syndrome.
Eating healthy food, taking less salt in diet, control on alcohol intake, quitting smoking, learning to manage stress, increasing physical activities and practicing slow and deep breathing are some of the ways to prevent high pressure.
