Introduction
Do you know that according to a WHO report, 60% of people worldwide suffer from hypertension and most of these people are young? In India, too, its situation is becoming dire. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to measure blood pressure regularly. Blood pressure measurements tell you how much blood passes through your blood vessels and how much resistance the blood meets when the heart pumps.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood passing through the blood vessels is consistently too high. Today in this blog, we will do a quick go-through on high blood pressure and cover its symptoms, causes, and how to treat it.
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension or high blood pressure (hypertension) is common in which the artery walls create greater resistance to blood flow. Over the long term, high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, retinal damage.
For your information, blood pressure can be determined in two ways – by the amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. Hypertension does not discriminate between gender and age; it can happen to anyone.
Is Hypertension a Severe Threat to life?
The condition of hypertension does not occur suddenly; it develops over the course of many years. Usually, it does not have any specific symptoms. But fortunately, high blood pressure is easily detected, and there are many ways to control it.
However, since the symptoms of hypertension do not appear until the high blood pressure condition becomes life-threatening, it is crucial to identify hypertension early. Otherwise, high blood pressure can damage various organs, including your blood vessels, heart, and can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and kidneys.
Regular blood pressure readings can help your doctor notice changes in your health. Hypertension is usually treated with prescription medications and healthy lifestyle changes. However, remember that hypertension can lead to health problems, including heart attack and stroke if hypertension is not treated at the right time.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Scientifically, hypertension is called “The Silent Killer” because it quietly damages the cardiovascular system. As a result, many people suffer from hypertension without experiencing any symptoms. Symptoms become apparent only when high blood pressure is severe, and it may take years for the disease to reach a critical level.
If the condition of high blood pressure is serious, the following symptoms may occur:
- Dizziness
- Headache and vomiting
- Paralysis due to stroke
- Heart failure symptoms like acute onset of breathlessness.
- Blood spots in the eyes (subconjunctival hemorrhage)
- Loss of vision
- Low urine output due to kidney failure
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
The causes of hypertension may include the following factors:-
- Age (45-65)
- Too much alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- High sodium intake
- Not being physically active
- Overweight
- Tobacco consumption
- Stress
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Kidney failure
Uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to various health concerns
- Heart failure
- Aneurysm rupture
- Heart Attack or stroke
- Kidney problems
- Retinal damage
Conclusion There are two types of hypertension – primary and secondary hypertension. Doctors treat you based on the type of hypertension you have. Most cases, hypertension is treated with medication, dietary and lifestyle changes. However, hypertension can be dangerous for your health, so it is vital to monitor your blood pressure regularly and follow the doctor’s advice.