Hypertension: The bane of modern lifestyles

Want to know what is hypertension exactly? Be wary of the causes of high blood pressure to avoid high blood pressure risk that can be the cause of several health conditions. Read on to know more.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension occurs when your blood pressure level is too high. It is a chronic condition where the force of circulating blood against your artery walls is high. It can further lead to complications such as heart disease.

Hypertension is determined by how much blood your heart pumps and the resistance to this blood flow. Your blood pressure is measured in two numbers – systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Hypertension diagnosis is confirmed when your systolic measurement is 140 mmHg or higher and your diastolic measurement is 90 mmHg and above.

Causes of high blood pressure

Age and gender

Your risk of this condition increases as you age. High blood pressure is more common in men until the age of 64. Similarly, high blood pressure risk increases after the age of 65 in women.

Race and ethnicity

Hypertension is diagnosed more in black people compared to white people, Asians, American Indians, Alaska Natives, or Pacific Islanders. Also, people of African heritage develop hypertension at an early age compared to others. Besides, they are more prone to chronic conditions like heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

Genetics and family history

Heredity does play a role in health conditions like high blood pressure. You are likely to have high blood pressure risk if any of your family members have the condition.

Physical inactivity

A sedentary lifestyle puts you at risk of hypertension, obesity, and heart disease. Exercising regularly helps you maintain weight. This aids in managing your blood pressure levels.

Being overweight or obese

An obese or overweight person requires more blood flow to supply oxygen and nutrients. An increase in blood flow in your blood vessels further puts stress on your artery walls.

Tobacco consumption

Smoking tobacco and exposure to second-hand smoke can increase your chances of high blood pressure. The toxic chemicals in tobacco can harm the walls of your arteries. It can also increase your risk of heart problems.

High-stress levels

Your blood pressure levels increase temporarily due to stress. Indulging in stress-boosting habits such as consuming tobacco and drinking alcohol can lead to hypertension.

Unhealthy diet

Eating too much salt makes your body retain fluid, thus raising your blood pressure. Similarly, a diet lacking in potassium also puts you at risk of hypertension. Therefore, you should eat a balanced diet to maintain your high blood pressure.

Excessive alcohol

Drinking alcohol in high quantities can damage your heart and increase blood pressure.

Chronic conditions

Some health conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, and kidney disease may also increase the possibilities of hypertension.

Hypertension symptoms

Hypertension is referred to as a silent killer as most people with this condition do not experience any hypertension symptoms. Those who do may develop the following:

• Severe headaches
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Breathlessness
• Restlessness
• Blurred vision
• Nosebleed
• Confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Blood in the urine
• Irregular heartbeat
• Pounding in chest, neck, or ears
• Tinnitus, ringing in the ears
• Insomnia
• Excessive sweating
• Low libido

Hypertension diagnosis

To make a proper hypertension diagnosis, your physician will examine your medical history and conduct a physical examination. An inflatable arm cuff is placed around your arm to determine your blood pressure with a pressure-measuring gauge. You can also purchase a blood pressure monitor to check and manage hypertension at home. Your doctor may also recommend certain tests to confirm a hypertension diagnosis. These include ambulatory monitoring, lab tests, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram.

Hypertension treatment

As an effective hypertension treatment, your doctor may ask you to make certain lifestyle changes and take medication to control your blood pressure. Some lifestyle changes include eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, maintaining your weight, or limiting the amount of alcohol you drink. Medications such as diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers may also be prescribed to you.

By knowing what is hypertension, you can take the right steps to prevent it from changing your life. Read our blogs on hypertension symptoms, high blood pressure risk, and more. Browse through these articles for the best diet suggestions, lifestyle changes, and tips for hypertension prevention and treatment.

For better management of hypertension, consult with the best doctors near you on Bajaj Finserv Health. In addition, you can also sign up for Aarogya Care health plans. These plans cover medical expenses arising from a wide range of lifestyle and other illnesses at reasonable premiums.