Hypertension: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

June 01 2024 TalktoAngel 0 comments 5565 Views

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, refers to a condition where the force of blood against the artery walls exceeds the normal range. This pressure varies during the day depending on various factors. Persistent readings above the normal range can lead to a diagnosis of hypertension. Higher blood pressure levels increase the likelihood of developing serious health issues like heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

High blood pressure occurs when the pressure exerted by blood against the walls of your arteries remains consistently elevated. This continual strain damages your arteries progressively, potentially resulting in severe complications such as heart attacks and strokes. "Hypertension" serves as an alternative term for this prevalent condition. Healthcare professionals often refer to high blood pressure as a "silent killer" because it typically manifests no noticeable symptoms, leaving individuals unaware of the underlying issue while damage continues to develop internally.

Causes of Hypertension:

The causes of hypertension are multifaceted and can vary from person to person. However, some common factors contributing to high blood pressure include:

Unhealthy Diet: High cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium (salt) intake can cause hypertension. Additionally, low intake of potassium, magnesium, and calcium-rich foods may play a role.

Lack of Physical Activity: Sedentary lifestyles often lead to weight gain and higher blood pressure. Regular exercise helps regulate blood pressure by improving cardiovascular health and physical health.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Heavy drinking can raise blood pressure over time. It's important to limit alcohol intake to moderate levels.

Smoking: Using tobacco damages blood vessels and raises the possibility of high blood pressure. Nicotine in cigarettes constricts blood vessels, making the heart work harder to pump blood.

Stress: Chronic stress can elevate blood pressure. Stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises can help mitigate this effect.

Family History: Genetics can predispose individuals to hypertension. You might be at higher risk if any of your parents or close relatives have high blood pressure.

Age: Blood pressure tends to increase with age due to the stiffening of arteries and other physiological changes. However, hypertension is not an inevitable part of aging.

Obesity or Overweight: Excess body weight puts strain on the heart and increases blood pressure. Losing weight through a healthy diet and exercise can help lower blood pressure.

Managing hypertension often involves lifestyle modifications, such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, reducing stress, limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and, in some cases, medication prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Types of Hypertension:

Blood pressure readings for adults are categorized into five groups:

Healthy: Blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg is considered healthy.

Elevated: Blood pressure with a systolic number between 120- and 129 mm Hg and a diastolic number below 80 mm Hg. Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes rather than medication.

Stage 1 hypertension: Blood pressure with a systolic number between 130- and 139 mm Hg, or a diastolic number between 80- and 89 mm Hg.

Stage 2 hypertension: Blood pressure with a systolic number of 140 mm Hg or higher, or a diastolic number of 90 mm Hg or higher.

Hypertensive crisis: Blood pressure with a systolic number over 180 mm Hg or a diastolic number over 120 mm Hg requires urgent medical attention, especially if accompanied by symptoms like breathing difficulties, headaches, chest pain, or vision abnormalities. Emergency medical care is necessary in such cases.

Treatment and Prevention for Hypertension:

Changing one's lifestyle and sometimes taking medication are the mainstays of treatment and prevention for hypertension. This is an explanation:

1. Changes in Lifestyle

Healthy Diet: Reducing salt, cholesterol, and saturated fats while increasing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats will help decrease blood pressure. The DASH diet, or nutritional Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is a common name for this nutritional strategy.

Weight control: Reducing excess weight can lower blood pressure considerably. A modest weight loss of five to ten pounds can have a significant impact.

Daily Exercise: At least 150 minutes a week of regular physical activity, such as running, cycling, swimming, or brisk walking, will help decrease blood pressure.

Limit Alcohol: It's recommended to drink alcohol sparingly, if at all. Drinking too much alcohol can cause blood pressure to rise.

Quit Smoking: Smoking destroys blood vessels over time and momentarily elevates blood pressure. Giving up smoking can lower blood pressure and enhance cardiovascular health in general.

2. Medication:

Your doctor may recommend medication to treat hypertension if lifestyle modifications alone are insufficient. Treatments for hypertension encompass several drug classes, such as:

Diuretics: Lower blood pressure and volume by assisting the body in getting rid of extra water and salt.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: these drugs dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Calcium channel blockers: Assist in blood vessel relaxation and lessen the burden on the heart.

Beta-blockers: Lower blood pressure by reducing heart rate and cardiac output.

Additional Drugs: Other drugs including vasodilators, central agonists, or alpha-blockers may be recommended based on the patient's specific situation.

3. Regular examination and follow-up:

It is essential to regularly monitor blood pressure. How frequently you should get your blood pressure monitored will be decided by your healthcare practitioner.

See your doctor frequently to assess the efficacy of your therapy and make any necessary prescription adjustments.

4. Handling Stress:

High blood pressure can be exacerbated by ongoing stress. Stress management techniques include deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and taking up hobbies.

5. Quality of Sleep:

Hypertension may be exacerbated by poor sleep or by sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. Blood pressure can be lowered by enhancing sleep hygiene and obtaining treatment for sleep problems.

6. Frequent medical examinations:

Scheduling routine examinations with your physician will assist in detecting and managing any underlying medical issues that might be causing your hypertension.

In conclusion, hypertension, characterized by elevated blood pressure, demands vigilant management to mitigate its risks. While symptoms may often go unnoticed, its causes span genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, and underlying health conditions. Effective treatment entails a holistic approach encompassing medication, dietary adjustments, and regular exercise. Additionally, incorporating online counselling, with access to the best psychologists in India, can provide invaluable support in addressing the psychological components of hypertension, fostering coping strategies, and promoting overall well-being. By amalgamating medical intervention with psychological support, individuals can navigate hypertension with greater resilience and empower themselves toward long-term health.

Contributed by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach & Ms. Samta Pareek, Counselling Psychologist