Hypertension and How it Can Affect You

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. It is a condition wherein a person’s blood pressure is on the rise. It is also sometimes called as arterial hypertension, as it usually occurs in the arteries.

It might be necessary to first define what blood pressure is. Blood pressure is the force that pushes the blood into and out of the heart. Your heart beats because it is pumping out blood. When the heart is beating, blood pressure is at its highest point. This is referred to as the systolic state. And when the heart is in between beats, blood pressure falls. That state, on the other hand, is referred to as diastolic.

Blood pressure higher than 120/80 mmHg is considered hypertension. If a person reads 140/90 mmHg on a sphygmomanometer, his blood pressure is considered high, more so if it is higher than that. When hypertension is apparent, medical attention has to be sought.

The Two Types of Hypertension
Hypertension is classified either as essential or secondary. Essential hypertension is the term given to the type of hypertension that seems to occur without any cause at all. Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, is the type of hypertension that has rooted from another disease or condition. Examples of these are tumors or kidney diseases.

Essential hypertension is usually caused by obesity, by having too much salt in the diet, alcohol, or obesity. Aside from these, insulin resistance and salt sensitivity are also two of the known factors that can cause the disease. There are also evidences that this type of hypertension is classified as a genetic disorder.

Secondary hypertension, as stated earlier, is brought about by a pre-existing disease in a patient. Diseases associated to the kidneys are the most common example. Other heart conditions and adrenal cortical disorders are also popular causes of this particular type of hypertension.

Symptoms and Complications of Hypertension
More often than not, hypertension does not produce any symptoms at all. But a lot of people always associate with stress, mental tension, and anxiety. Research had also shown that pregnancy has something to do with hypertension as well. But the particular one observed in pregnant women is benign and only 10 percent of them experience it.

One complication of hypertension is cerebrovascular accidents or more commonly, stroke. It may also affect the heart. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) and hypertensive cardiomyopathy (heart failure) could happen. Damage to the eye’s retina, which is called hypertensive retinopathy, and chronic renal failure, which is clinically referred to as hypertensive nephropathy are included in the list of complications.

Diagnosis of Hypertension
The diagnosis of hypertension is done simply by measuring the person’s blood pressure. And usually, it has to be conducted regularly, at least a week apart. And if the case of hypertension is deemed extreme that organs are beginning to sustain some damage, treatment should start immediately.

It is also important that the type of hypertension is determined during diagnosis. Essential hypertension is more common than the other type. In fact, 90% of diagnosed adult patients have it. But if the hypertension that the patient had developed is the secondary type, its root cause should be attended to thoroughly.

Treatment for Hypertension
Drugs are usually given to patients with high blood pressure. The most common drugs that are used are ACE inhibitors like captopril and fosinopril. ARB’s like irbesartan and Alpha-blockers like doxazosin are also prescribed. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are also given through drugs like atenolol and amlodipine. And, diuretics such as bendroflumethiazide and chlortalidone complete the list.

Depending upon the extent of hypertension, doctors may prescribe a mix of these drugs per category. They will try to find out the best combination of medicines so that the patient’s blood pressure is kept at normal. People with hypertension are advised to visit their doctors on a regular basis so that their condition will be monitored well.