The Hypertension

1. Definition
2. Elevated blood pressure – a serious matter to be look into
3. Causes of hypertension
4. Risk zones for hypertension
5. Risk of hypertension
6. Symptoms of hypertension
7. Treatment
8. Four groups of drugs prescribed by the physicians
9. Preventive measures

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. A normal blood pressure is 120/80. A blood pressure reading higher or equal to 140/90 is considered abnormally high. Elevated blood pressure means your heart is working harder than normal, putting both your heart and arteries under great strain. High blood pressure is serious business. On average, people with uncontrolled hypertension are: Seven times more likely to have a stroke.

Six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Three times more likely to have a heart attack.

In 90% of cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown. This is called “essential hypertension”. The other10% of cases is called “secondary hypertension”. Secondary hypertension is caused by kidney disease, severe narrowing of the aorta, tumors in the adrenal gland, or hardening of the arteries. There are many factors associated with high blood pressure, including smoking, age, race, a high-salt diet, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, and use of birth control pills, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

If you are a man from 35 to 50, you are in a high-risk zone for hypertension, this is especially true if hypertension also runs in your family. It is less likely for women to have high-blood pressure, but the risk increases after menopause.

There are usually no symptoms for hypertension. This is why it is often is called the “silent killer”. Actually, you could have hypertension for years and not know about because you feel fine.

But symptoms do show up if the case is serve. Some of these symptoms are:

• Headache
• Nosebleeds
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath

Hypertension accelerates hardening of the arteries, which may contribute to a stroke or heart attack. This can also lead to brain hemorrhage, kidney failure, heart failure, or blindness.

The best way to treat hypertension is to just change your lifestyle, but many times, patients need other medications and therapies. No more than 2 percent of hypertensive patients can be treated surgically. There are basically four groups of drugs a physician would prescribe a hypertension patient: Diuretics is the usually the first choice a doctor would prescribe. If helps by increasing the rate you body eliminates urine and salt. However, this can also increase your cholesterol level, make you urinate more frequently, and may cause a loss of potassium. Beta-Adrenergic Blockers drugs are usually prescribes if a diuretic does not help bring your blood pressure down, and sometimes are used in combination with diuretics. Beta-adrenergic blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline in your body. This means that it will cause your heart slower, with less force against your blood vessels. Common side effects are lethargy and fatigue. Some of these may also decrease the level of ‘good” cholesterol.

Calcium channel Blockers rugs block the calcium from going to your sells, which decreases the chance for your arteries to become narrow. For severe high blood pressure, Hydralazine and diazoxide & some other drugs may be used. For and emergency situation, when high blood pressure threatens someone’s life, nitroprusside may be used. Other options for therapy include reserpine, rauwolfia, alkaloids, and guanethidine.

There are many thing we can do to prevent high blood pressure. These things include:

Have our blood pressure checked regularly

Watching our weight

Not drinking alcohol

Eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt, and high in fibre

Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

Not smoking

Exercising regularly

Reducing stress and practicing relaxation techniques