What is Hypertension
The force of blood flow inside your blood vessels is called blood pressure. An essential
part of your health care program is keeping your blood pressure under control. When your
blood pressure exceeds normal value the risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and
eye disease rises too.
There are two numbers recorded during blood pressure test: systolic pressure and diastolic
pressure. Systolic pressure is a blood pressure when your heart beats and pushes blood
through blood vessels; diastolic pressure is a blood pressure when your heart is at rest
between heartbeats and the blood vessels relax.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a desease in which the blood pressure exceeds a normal
value. It is defined when a systolic pressure exceeds 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure
exceeds 90 mmHg. The normal blood pressure for an average adult is 130/80 mmHg. If you
experience high blood pressure your heart has to work harder, blood vessels may become damaged
and your heart becomes strained. It is recommended to check your blood pressure at least twice a year.
There are two kinds of hypertension:
- Primary hypertension. Primary hypertension occures in 90% of high blood pressure cases. The
causes of primary hypertension still remain unknown. It is also called a "silent killer" because
it has no symptoms and creeps up on you.
- Secondary hypertension. It occures in 5-10% of high blood pressure cases. Causes of secondary
hypertension are known and commonly include:
- A structual abnormality of the aorta
- Narrowing of certain arteries (for example caused by atherosclerosis)
- Kidney abnormality
Secondary hypertension can usually be cured.
High blood pressure complications
Though you can live a long life and even don't know about your high blood pressure, it leads
your heart work harder and your blood vessels may not work properly, espessially if high blood
pressure continues for a long time. It results in increased risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney
failure and congestive heart failure. The risk of heart attack increases several times when
high blood pressure is combined with such conditions as diabetes,
high cholesterol level in blood, obesity, alcohol drinking and smoking.
High blood pressure risk factors
Though exact causes of hypertension are unknown, there are some well-known risk factors. Let's see
what conditions can lead to high blood pressure.
- Obesity or abnormal body weight. Obesity results in fat building up on the blood vessels and
their narrowing. This leads to high blood pressure development.
- Diabetes mellitus, heart disease, gout or kidney disease
- Middle-aged and eldery people are more sensitive to high blood pressure. Sometimes high blood
pressure developes from the patient's childhood without any signs for many years
- Alcohol drinkers
- Tobacco smokers
- Women taking birth control pills
- Women who have had high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Women after menopause
- Patients with a strong family history of high blood pressure
- African Americans
High blood pressure treatment
It is important to check blood pressure at least twice a year from the beginning of your life.
Your health provider will record two numbers - systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It looks
like 125/90 mmHg. The normal blood pressure is a blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg.
If your blood pressure does not exceed 130/90 mmHg, your doctor will suggest to improve your lifestyle:
- Loose weight
- Increase physical activity
- Lower salt intake with your food
- Make wise food choices
- Limit alcohol intake
- Quit smoking
Drug therapy usually begins if your blood pressure exceeds 140/90 mmHg or higher. Drug therapy is
usually used in addition to lifestyle changes. Medicines and lifestyle improvements can lead to control
your high blood pressure and prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Medications used to treat high blood pressure
Medications used to treat high blood pressure differ by mechanism of treatment and depend on your
blood pressure readings and other factors such as other diseases and conditions, other medications
you take, and cost. High blood pressure treatments can be divided into several parts:
- ACE inhibitors: Aceon (Perindopril),
Avapro (Irbesartan). These medications
work by by blocking ACE, an enzyme involved in narrowing blood vessels, thus relaxing blood
vessels. These medications are also used to protect your kidneys and prevent heart disease
- Diuretics: Aldactone (Spironolactone),
Lasix (Furosemide). Diuretics are also called "water pills".
Diuretics work by blocking the absorption of salt and fluid in the kidney tubules, causing a
profound increase in urine output (diuresis)
- Vasodilators: Vasodilan
(Isoxsuprine). Vasodilators help to widen blood vessels so blood flows better.
- Beta blockers: Tenormin
(Atenolol), Zebeta (Bisoprolol). Beta blockers
relax your heart by blocking the heart's beta-adrenergic receptors thus allowing it to beat less forcebly and slower
- Calcium channel blockers: Procardia (Nifedipine).
These medications block the transport of calcium into the smooth muscle cells lining the coronary
arteries and other arteries of the body thus keeping calcium out of your heart and blood vessels
Do not quit taking medications even if you feel well. Decreasing dosage or not taking medication is
dangerous. Take the medication as prescribed for as long as the doctor tells you to take it. Since
high blood pressure is a chronical disease, it can be only controlled but not cured.
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