Many residents of Anguilla suffer from hypertension (also known as high blood pressure), a condition if not adequately treated can lead to many complications including the development of strokes. Indeed, hypertension is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. It usually has no symptoms but is a contributing factor in about half of all strokes.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is defined as when your blood pressure, the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels, is consistently too high. You can have high blood pressure and have little or no symptoms, but high blood pressure could be quietly causing damage that can threaten your health. The best prevention is knowing your numbers and making changes that matter in order to prevent and manage high blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as 2 figures:
• systolic pressure – the pressure when your heart pushes blood out
• diastolic pressure – the pressure when your heart rests between beats
For example, if your blood pressure is “140 over 90”, or 140/90mmHg, it means you have a systolic pressure of 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg. A blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg is considered normal for most individuals.
Why hypertension increases your risk of stroke?
High blood pressure puts extra strain on all the blood vessels in your body. This can make a stroke due to a clot (ischaemic stroke) more likely, because high blood pressure damages your blood vessels and makes them become stiffer and more narrow. This can lead to clots forming and travelling to the brain, causing a stroke.
High blood pressure can also make a stroke due to a bleed (haemorrhagic stroke) more likely. One way this can happen is if you have an aneurysm (weakened blood vessel) in your brain. If this is damaged over time, by high blood pressure, it can leak or burst, causing a bleed.
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
The vast majority of individuals who have high blood pressure do not have any symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure measured regularly. This can be done by your doctor, nurse or a qualified health professional.
If you have had a blood pressure reading that’s higher than it should be repeated after an interval. You should not be diagnosed with high blood pressure on a single reading. After a diagnosis you might be advised to make some lifestyle changes. Exact treatment will depend on the individual’s history and examination – and the presence of other risk factors. Your doctor will also give advice on managing your blood pressure and reducing your risk of a stroke.
Sticking to your medication can help you stay healthy and reduce your risk of a stroke. Some people need to take more than one medication to control their blood pressure, and you may need to try several different types before you find the ones that suit you best.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die in minutes.
A stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial. Early action can reduce brain damage and other complications. Effective treatments can also help prevent disability from stroke.
Risk factors for stroke
Besides high blood pressure, other risk factors for stroke are: Being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, heavy or binge drinking, use of illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, cigarette smoking or secondhand smoke exposure, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack. Knowing your stroke risk factors, following your doctor’s recommendations, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke.
Conclusion
Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for the development of a stroke. Controlling your blood pressure can significantly decrease your chances of developing a stroke. High blood is often called a ‘silent killer’, as it might be present and causing much damage to your organs without any symptoms. You should have your blood pressure reading done at regular intervals so that, if present, it can be adequately treated and many complications including strokes prevented.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-eight years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5828).
