The Doctor Diagnosed "High Blood Pressure" - Now What?

What Is Blood Pressure?

The heart is a muscle, and its role is to circulate blood throughout the body. Blood low in oxygen flows toward the lungs, where oxygen levels are replenished. From there, oxygen-rich blood is pumped throughout the body, supplying the required oxygen to muscles and other cells. This blood flow exerts pressure on the walls of the arteries.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, professionally known as hypertension, describes a chronic condition where the pressure in the arteries is consistently higher than normal, primarily due to increased resistance in the peripheral arteries.
Hypertension is the most common chronic disease in the Western world, affecting approximately 20% of the population, with half of the elderly population suffering from it.

What Do the Blood Pressure Readings Mean?

Blood pressure measurement includes two types of pressure:

• Systolic Pressure: The pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the left ventricle of the heart.
• Diastolic Pressure: The pressure in the peripheral arteries during heart relaxation.

When measuring blood pressure, both values are essential. Two numbers are obtained, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
The currently accepted definition of high blood pressure is a blood pressure measurement of over 140 mmHg systolic and/or 90 mmHg or higher diastolic, based on at least three repeated measurements at different times.

Factors and Causes of High Blood Pressure

• In 93% of cases, high blood pressure is primarily hereditary, defined as primary hypertension.
  7% of the population suffers from secondary hypertension due to factors such as hormonal imbalances or abnormalities in arteries like the renal arteries.
• Blood pressure tends to rise with age, and the likelihood of developing high blood pressure increases accordingly.
• Excess weight is a significant risk factor for developing high blood pressure.
• Smoking: The chemicals in tobacco harm the arterial walls and increase blood pressure. Passive smoking (being around smokers) also raises blood pressure.
• High Salt Intake: Excess salt in the diet leads to fluid retention, increasing blood pressure in individuals sensitive to salt or those with kidney problems.
• Alcohol Consumption: Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day can raise blood pressure.
• Stress: Mental stress, anxiety, and pressure dramatically affect blood pressure.
• Medications: Birth control pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroids can affect blood pressure.
• Substance Abuse: Using drugs like cocaine or stimulants can influence blood pressure.
• Chronic Diseases: Individuals with high cholesterol, diabetes, or kidney disease are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer" because it is often asymptomatic. Patients do not feel unwell, and their lives are not affected. Most individuals suffering from high blood pressure are unaware of their condition.
Possible symptoms that may occur include headaches, nausea, fatigue, confusion, blurred vision, blood in the urine, shortness of breath, and palpitations.

What Are the Dangers of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure can damage blood vessels, kidneys, the heart, eyes, and the brain, leading to heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, heart failure, diabetes, impairment of the body's metabolic processes, memory and comprehension difficulties, and arteriosclerosis.

How Is High Blood Pressure Treated?

The basic treatment involves lifestyle changes:

• Quit Smoking.
• Lose Weight.
• Reduce Sodium Intake in Your Diet.
• Adopt a Balanced Low-Calorie Diet.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption.
• Engage in Aerobic Physical Activity regularly, such as walking for at least 40 minutes four times a week.
• Manage Psychological Stress through techniques like biofeedback, yoga, and more.

For individuals suffering from high blood pressure or at high risk, especially if there is damage to the blood vessels or kidneys, or if blood pressure has not reached an equilibrium after lifestyle changes, medication may be prescribed. Various types of medications are available, and consultation with a healthcare provider is necessary to determine the most suitable treatment or combination of drugs.

Children can also suffer from high blood pressure, with severe health consequences.