The term
"hypertension," or high blood pressure, refers to the condition in
which blood exerts a force that is consistently elevated against the arteries'
walls. A heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other serious
health issues can result from elevated blood pressure that persists.
The measurement of blood
pressure is in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The pressure inside the arteries
when the heart contracts while pumping blood is represented by the top number,
or systolic pressure. The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes
between beats and fills with blood is represented by the bottom number,
diastolic pressure.
A blood pressure of less than
80 over less than 120 is considered normal. A person is said to have elevated
blood pressure if their blood pressure is between 120 and 129 and less than 80.
This classification is used to encourage people to take preventative diet and
lifestyle measures. Those with systolic numbers between 130 and 139 or
diastolic numbers between 80 and 89 are diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension.
Stage 2 hypertension, a serious risk factor for stroke and other cardiovascular
events, is characterized by systolic or diastolic numbers of 140 or higher.
Throughout the day, your blood
pressure changes repeatedly; It decreases while you sleep and rises when you
wake up. It also rises when a person is active, excited, or nervous.
According to the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), hypertension is the most common risk
factor for cardiovascular disease in the United States, affecting one in three
adults. Inadequate blood flow to vital organs can result in arterial damage,
which in turn can lead to heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, eye damage, or
aneurysm if left untreated. Fortunately, once diagnosed, high blood pressure is
frequently manageable through lifestyle and diet adjustments.
How Does High Blood Pressure
Show Up?
Because it often causes no
obvious symptoms even when it is severe, hypertension is frequently referred to
as a "silent killer." Headaches, dizzy spells, and nosebleeds are
some of the symptoms that some patients report, but these symptoms typically do
not occur until there has been a sudden change in blood pressure or until blood
pressure has reached dangerous levels.
How Can High Blood Pressure be
Caused?
Age increases the likelihood
of developing high blood pressure because arterial walls lose their elasticity.
Although there may be a number of contributing factors, doctors frequently are
unable to pinpoint the exact cause of high blood pressure, which is known as
"essential hypertension." The following are examples of potential
factors that could be contributing:-
|
1. |
Stress can cause the
arteries to maintain a more rigid tone by chronically activating the
sympathetic nervous system. |
|
2. |
Consuming a lot of salt: The
sodium in salt can cause too much water to stay in the body, which makes the
blood volume bigger and raises blood pressure. |
|
3. |
a diet deficient in
potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The muscular structures of arterial walls
are regulated by these micronutrients, and imbalances can affect arterial
tone. |
|
4. |
Insulin sensitivity: There
are a number of ways in which this condition can raise blood pressure, such
as increased systemic inflammation and sodium retention as a result of kidney
damage. |
|
5. |
Drinking more than one drink
per day or more than two drinks per day for men under the age of 65 is
considered excessive alcohol consumption. |
|
6. |
excess weight. Adipose
tissue causes the heart to work harder to maintain blood flow. |
|
7. |
Steroids, birth control
pills, decongestants, NSAIDS, and diet pills are examples of prescription
medications that can raise blood pressure. Licorice root, ephedra, guaraná,
kola nut, yerba maté, ginseng, and yohimbe are some over-the-counter
medications that may also raise blood pressure. |
Blood pressure can also rise as a result of some health issues, such as sleep apnea, thyroid disease, and chronic kidney disease.
The National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute (NHLBI) states that African Americans are more likely than
Caucasians or Hispanic Americans to experience high blood pressure, develop it
earlier, and likely be more severe. High blood pressure can occur even in young
children, but these cases frequently go undiagnosed. One in 25 young people
between the ages of 12 and 19 is thought to have hypertension, and one in ten
have high blood pressure, according to a study conducted by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The ongoing epidemic of
childhood obesity is the main cause. Up to 30% of overweight and obese
children, according to estimates, have high blood pressure, and the situation
is likely to get worse as the epidemic continues.
When blood pressure is taken
in the doctor's office, it sometimes temporarily rises. This is because of a
patient's anxiety, which is probably a conditioned response to seeing a doctor
(known as "white-coat hypertension") and possibly to what doctors
have previously told patients about the dangers of hypertension. Checking your
blood pressure at home with a well-calibrated blood pressure monitor, which are
widely available, is the most effective method for determining whether the
elevated readings obtained in the doctor's office are only the result of
white-coat hypertension. If you decide to do this, you should check your blood
pressure at random times at least twice a day and write down the results to
show your doctor.
How is Hypertension Diagnosed?
The majority of people are
familiar with blood pressure testing, which is done with a pressure-measuring
gauge and an inflatable arm cuff. A diagnosis of "elevated blood
pressure" is taken into consideration if your blood pressure is between
120 and 129 mg Hg and less than 80 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure readings
between 130 and 139 mmHg or diastolic readings between 80 and 89 mmHg indicate
stage 1 hypertension. A reading of 140 mmHg or higher or a diastolic reading of
90 mmHg or higher is considered to be stage 2 hypertension, or more severe.
Before starting treatment, your doctor will probably ask you to return in a few
days or weeks for a second set of blood pressure measurements, unless your
blood pressure is extremely high or you are experiencing symptoms that are
related to high blood pressure. A single high reading should not be used to
make a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
The American Heart Association
is one of the medical organizations that advises people with high blood
pressure to get a home monitor so they can check their blood pressure on a
regular basis on their own and track how well they respond to treatment. This
was suggested due to the fact that only one third of the 72 million Americans
with high blood pressure are able to control it effectively. In addition,
regular home monitoring enables doctors to document your blood pressure outside
of the office, the efficacy of prescribed medications, and the effects of
lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising, and limiting salt intake.
What Is the Standard Treatment?
Recommendations to quit
smoking, get regular exercise, and lose weight are typically the first steps in
conventional treatment. Even a ten percent weight loss can occasionally control
high blood pressure. Alcohol and caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda, and
energy drinks) can also be reduced.
If, despite lifestyle changes,
blood pressure readings consistently exceed 140/90 (or 130/80 for diabetics or
kidney disease patients), medication is typically prescribed. However, even
when medications are prescribed, doctors typically advise following a low-salt
diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables, exercising, and practicing stress
management techniques, all of which can help reduce medication dosages.
There are a number of
medications that can be used to treat high blood pressure. The following is a
brief overview of each type's operation:-
|
Diuretics |
Aid the kidneys in
eliminating salt and excess water from the body. |
|
Anti-beta drugs |
Reduce blood vessel pressure
by relaxing arterial walls and assisting the heart in beating more slowly and
with less force. |
|
ACES blockers |
Angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) is its acronym. The hormone angiotensin II, which normally causes
blood vessels to narrow and raise pressure inside, is inhibited by this class
of drugs. |
|
Blockers of the angiotensin
II receptor |
In order to allow blood
vessels to relax and expand, shield them from the hormone angiotensin II. |
|
Blockers of calcium channels |
Stop calcium from getting
into the heart's muscle cells and blood vessels, allowing them to relax. |
|
Blockers of calcium channels |
Reduce nerve impulses that
make blood vessels tighten, which makes it easier for blood to flow. |
|
Anti-alpha agents |
Reduce nerve impulses that
make blood vessels tighten, which makes it easier for blood to flow. |
|
Alpha-beta antagonists |
The heartbeat is slowed and
nerve impulses are reduced. |
|
Neuropathic painkillers |
Increase brain-derived nerve
impulses to relax and expand blood vessels. |
|
Vasodilators |
Relax muscles along the
walls of blood vessels. |
The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), developed at the NHLBI (pdf) based on a large-scale study that identified the foods that affect blood pressure, is also likely to be recommended by conventional doctors. It emphasizes eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and dairy products with low or no fat that contain enough calcium. The sodium and fat in the diet are also relatively low. Diets high in potassium, calcium, and magnesium and low in sodium (less than 2,400 mg) have been shown by DASH researchers to be important for controlling blood pressure.
A doctor may recommend a
urinalysis, an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical
activity, and possibly other tests for signs of heart disease in addition to
checking your blood pressure.
What Treatments for High Blood
Pressure does Dr. Weil Recommend?
Dr. Andrew Weil recommends the
following lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements for naturally lowering
blood pressure. He advises consulting your doctor about prescribing one or more
of the conventional medications listed above if those changes do not help. The
following are Dr. Weil's suggestions for lowering your blood pressure:-
|
1. |
Reduce your caffeine intake. |
|
2. |
Reduce alcohol consumption. |
|
3. |
Avoid processed food. In
today's diets, these are the main sources of sodium. |
|
4. |
Keep your ideal weight.
Blood pressure can be lowered even by a small amount of weight loss. |
|
5. |
Biofeedback, yoga, breathing
exercises, and meditation all have the potential to lower blood pressure.
Make use of the 4-7-8 breathing pattern. |
|
6. |
Avoid smoking. |
|
7. |
Blood pressure can be
reduced with as little as 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, such as
walking. |
|
8. |
Examine your medications.
Talk to your doctor about your current medications and the possibility that
they will raise your blood pressure. |
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