Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the wall of the body’s arteries which are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from one’s heart to different parts of the body. The pressure is believed to depend on the blood vessels’ resistance and how hard the heart has to pump. Hypertension or High blood pressure is a chronic condition wherein the arterial blood pressure is persistently elevated. Elevated blood pressure is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and aneurysm. It is a major cause of premature death globally.
A recent global study conducted between 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries revealed that Hypertension has doubled from 331 million women and 317 million men in 1990 to 626 million women and 652 million men in 2019 for people aged between 30-79 years. Globally, 59% of women and 49% of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% of women and 38% of men were treated. This suggests nearly half of these people were unaware that they had hypertension.
Blood Pressure (BP) Range is recorded in 2 measurements: Systolic and diastolic pressure.
| Blood Pressure | Systolic (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) | |
| Normal | <120 | and | <80 |
| Elevated | 120-129 | and | <80 |
| High Blood Pressure (Stage 1) | 130-39 | or | 80-89 |
| High Blood Pressure (Stage 2) | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive Crisis (seek emergency care) | >180 | and/or | >120 |
A range over 140/90mmHg is considered to be a high blood pressure range. An ideal range of blood pressure has to be around 120/80 mmHg.
Hypertension is generally called a “silent killer”, as most people are unaware of having it because it might not be symptomatic. They can be nosebleeds, early morning headaches, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes, and buzzing in the ears when symptoms occur. High hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, dizziness, visual disturbance, facial flushing, vomiting, confusion, chest pain, anxiety, and muscle tremors. Regular checking of blood pressure can detect any abnormalities in the range.
The most common form in adults is also known as essential hypertension and does not have a known cause. However, genes, diet, lifestyle factors (like smoking, drinking, inadequate exercise, stress), and age could predispose primary hypertension factors.
This is the form of hypertension when the underlying cause is identifiable and potentially reversible on treating the cause. It occurs in about 5-10% of cases. Some common reasons are:
The cause of primary hypertension is not particular. However, secondary hypertension has specific causes and is mostly a complication of underlying health problems. Conditions that could lead to hypertension are:
Risk factors that contribute to the development of hypertension are:
Modifiable risk factors include –
Non-modifiable risk factors include –
Long-term hypertension can cause excess pressure that hardens arteries, decreasing the blood flow and reducing oxygen supply to the tissues. This results in complications like:
A digital blood pressure monitoring machine is available these days to regularly check the blood pressure levels at home. It consists of a cuff that needs to be wrapped around your arm, and reading will be shown on the monitor when you turn on the machine.
A Sphygmomanometer (a traditional BP monitor) is used for routine blood pressure checkups in any doctor’s office. The BP is recorded manually by a nurse. If there is a persistent rise in BP, the doctor will conduct more tests to rule underlying diseases like cholesterol screening, ECG, etc.
Medications that are commonly used to treat hypertension are:
Lifestyle changes include increasing physical activity of at least 150 mins of moderate exercise, maintaining an optimal weight, reducing stress and anxiety, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, reducing sodium and fat intake and getting enough sleep of 7-8 hours can all help prevent hypertension.
Diet includes a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein like fish.
The blood pressure response to caffeine differs in individuals. A short dramatic increase in blood pressure is seen when the caffeine is intaken. Some regular coffee drinkers have hypertension, while others develop a tolerance to caffeine over a long period.
Yes, a headache is a symptom of a very high blood pressure.
An unhealthy diet can put one at risk for developing hypertension like:
Very high blood pressure can be dangerous for both the mother and the infant if not diagnosed and managed well during pregnancy. The condition is called Gestational Hypertension and usually reverses itself after childbirth. However, if not managed well, complications include Preeclampsia which causes complications of kidney functioning resulting in high protein levels in urine, problems with liver function, fluid accumulation in lungs, or visual problems in pregnant women. It could also lead to eclampsia which causes seizures. Complications in infants could be low birth weight, early birth, or stillbirth.
© 2024 Bowtie Life Insurance Company Limited. All rights reserved.
