High blood pressure or hypertension (HTN or
HT) is a frequent condition characterized by an elevated long-term blood
pressure against the walls of arteries; this abnormal pressure, if high enough
for a long time, may eventually cause several health problems. Here are some
things that you must know about hypertension:
High blood pressure is not always symptomatic: with simplified words, high blood pressure could take place and
develop for years place without any obvious physical sign, thus it is called
“silent killer” and many people with HT don’t even know they have it till a
complication occurs, consequently, checking regularly your doctor and keeping
track of your blood pressure levels are the main key for early detection.
It could affect anyone: Though primary
hypertension is a mutifactorial condition resulting interaction of genes and
environmental factors, a clear leading cause is not established, which turns
each one of us a potential candidate. Aging, obesity, and lack of exercise may
have a favoring effect in individual cases.
Repeated Blood Pressure Measurements are required to Confirm
Hypertension: Blood pressure
varies throughout the day and according your body state. it may be higher than
normal in the doctor’s office just since your heart is beating quickly because
you’re nervous; known as “White coat effect”.
In order to confirm high blood pressure, multiple readings are required.
A standard way of measurement realized with an electronic machine after five
quiet minutes in the examination room. Some patients may have their blood
pressures measured over a period of one day (24 hours) with a specialized home
monitor.
Primary or secondary? Most cases of
hypertension are primary, but about 10% of all HTN patients suffer from a
disease that present hypertension as a sin, thus if your blood pressure levels
aren’t getting any better after bi-therapy or even triple therapy, chances that
it is a secondary hypertension are important.
Lifestyle Changes can make the difference: Sometimes some changes in your lifestyle are enough to bring your blood
pressure down. In other cases, you may need a combination of lifestyle changes
and medication to control the hypertension.
A healthy diet with restricted sodium intake, regular physical activity
and smoking stoppage are the cornerstone changes to make in the fight of
hypertension.
Complications are life-threatening: these complications are the clinical outcomes that ensue from persistent
elevation of blood pressure. Hypertension is a risk factor of atherosclerosis
and other cardiovascular troubles. It is a major predisposing factor for heart
failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, brain infarction and hemorrhage
, renal failure and so on.
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