Untreated hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has a major impact on individuals. Leaving high blood pressure uncontrolled can lead to serious medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure or renal failure – and even death.
What is hypertension?
Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure that your arteries see while the heart is contracting (top number) and relaxing (bottom number). While it is normal for blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day, it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. The term hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is used to describe higher than normal blood pressure. The higher your levels, the more at risk you are for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke – and death if not managed appropriately.
How do you know if you have high blood pressure?
To know if you have high blood pressure, you need to see your doctor or a trained healthcare provider. Your blood pressure is measured by an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. You may also undergo some other tests.
Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, while diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. If you are 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, “120 over 80,” or write, “120/80 mmHg.” A reading higher than that would be considered high blood pressure.
Most physicians do not make a definitive diagnosis of high blood pressure until they have several different blood pressure measurements.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Most people with high blood pressure show no symptoms. In some cases, the person can feel throbbing in the head or chest, dizziness, or other physical symptoms. It is important to point out that most individuals with high blood pressure hardly ever presents with symptoms. It can go unnoticed for years, while causing serious damage to your health.
What are some factors associated with high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is not something that develops overnight. It generally happens over time and can be the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, including diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and stress. A few health conditions, including diabetes and obesity, can also increase your chances of developing hypertension. The most common cause of high blood pressure is genetic predisposition. High blood pressure runs in families, so if your parents have high blood pressure, you are more likely to also have high blood pressure.
Prevention
There are some actions that you can take to decrease your chances of developing high blood pressure, or even lower it if it is already high.
The best way to prevent high blood pressure is to watch your diet: be sure to limit how much salt you eat and also make sure you do not overeat. Another important way to prevent high blood pressure is to exercise. You should try to do moderate cardiovascular exercise (walking, biking, swimming, and running) for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. Other lifestyle changes can also help. Not smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing stress have been shown to be beneficial. Measuring your blood pressure regularly is also important as it can lead to early diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment
When you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, the first step is to change your lifestyle. Your doctor can advise you about changes you can make to your lifestyle – and discuss whether he/she thinks you will benefit from medications. Whether medicine is also recommended depends on your blood pressure reading – and your risk of developing problems such as heart attacks or strokes. Several types of medicine can be used to help control high blood pressure. Many people need to take a combination of different medicines. Individuals are advised not to use other people medications and to take the medications as prescribed. If you develop side effects contact your doctor as soon as possible so that another medication can be prescribed.
You may need to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. Your doctor might be able to reduce or stop your treatment – if your blood pressure stays under control for several years.
Conclusion
Many individuals in Anguilla suffer from high blood pressure, as this disorder seldom has symptoms. Many individuals go undiagnosed for several years. Untreated high blood pressure increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and stroke. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. Well controlled high blood pressure can prevent many of the complications and prevent premature death.
Ask Your Doctor 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 is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty eight years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
