Health

Hypertension- The silent killer: What are the signs and symptoms and how can it be managed?

By caringsurgeon | Published 6 June 2022 | No Comments

A number of people in India and around the world have hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure. Many of these people have no idea that they are suffering from this debilitating condition as it presents itself with no obvious signs or symptoms and can lead to many other health problems if left untreated or poorly managed. In this clinical blog, we examine what hypertension actually is, what its signs and symptoms are and how it can be best managed in order to reduce any potential risks or dangers associated with the condition.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is an umbrella term for a group of medical conditions in which a person has persistently high arterial blood pressure. For these patients, their normal blood pressure would fall into one of two categories, either prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension. Prehypertension is defined as a systolic reading of 120 to 139 or diastolic 90 to 99. Stage 1 hypertension is when a patient’s blood pressure falls between 140/90 and 159/99. If your doctor tells you that you have stage 2 hypertension, then your systolic number is at least 160 or higher, while your diastolic number is at least 100 or higher.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

Most people don’t even realize they have high blood pressure, because you don’t feel symptoms. If you’re concerned about hypertension, however, you may notice a few telltale signs. For instance, as your blood pressure rises over time, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. At first, only in certain situations—like while exercising or while sleeping—do you notice that your heart is beating harder than normal. But as you reach a higher stage of hypertension (you have an average of 160 mm Hg at least once in two weeks), your heart begins to beat even harder in all situations to get enough blood through your body. And when your heart beats faster, you may experience these common symptoms: dizziness, headaches, fatigue and shortness of breath. Hypertension also increases your risk for stroke, so if you think you might have high blood pressure but aren’t sure what to look for or if you’re just not sure whether it’s worth getting checked out by a doctor, visit WebMD’s Guide to High Blood Pressure Symptoms page for more information on what could be causing those strange sensations. You’ll find detailed descriptions of other common hypertension symptoms there too. Then follow up with your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Even though high blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms, it still needs to be treated. In fact, untreated hypertension puts you at risk for life-threatening health problems like stroke and heart disease. So make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor so he or she can monitor your blood pressure levels. Medications are available to help lower high blood pressure levels and reduce your chances of having a stroke or heart attack caused by uncontrolled hypertension. Lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating healthier foods and getting regular exercise will also help control your blood pressure levels and reduce related health risks.

Treatment Options

Hypertension is a condition that requires immediate attention. If left untreated, hypertension may lead to complications such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease and stroke. Hence, doctors generally advise lifestyle changes in combination with medicines to control high blood pressure. Lifestyle modifications include changes in diet, exercise regime and stress management measures. Such modifications help bring down blood pressure by 10 to 20 mmHg within two weeks of starting treatment. Moreover, aerobic exercises such as jogging or swimming for 30 minutes per day for three days a week not only help lower blood pressure but also cut down on body fat. Consuming fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products helps reduce blood pressure levels. Experts also recommend eating foods rich in potassium such as bananas, spinach and broccoli. In addition to these dietary interventions, taking medications like angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is effective in reducing blood pressure levels by around 15 percent over a period of four months. Medications used for treating hypertension include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), alpha blockers and diuretics. Beta blockers work by blocking adrenaline receptors which relaxes blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers relaxes arteries which lowers blood pressure while alpha blockers works on specific parts of brain and prevents nerve impulses from traveling to certain muscles in body causing them to relax, thereby lowering blood pressure. Diuretics flush out excess water from body through urine which reduces volume of fluid in bloodstream resulting in reduction of blood pressure levels. Doctors usually prescribe one drug at a time until they find one that works best for their patient before adding another drug into their treatment regimen.

Tips to Manage Blood Pressure at Home

Hypertension (high blood pressure) often has no early warning signs, which is why so many people don’t even realize they have it. But when left untreated, hypertension increases your risk of stroke and heart disease. If you suspect you might have high blood pressure, pay attention to your body and seek medical help if needed. To ensure a healthy blood pressure level at home, take these steps Health blogs have been growing in popularity for years now. More and more individuals want to read about health issues from real doctors and health experts instead of from celebrities or journalists that may not really know what they’re talking about. That’s where health blogs come in – bloggers who provide advice on everything from dieting tips to improving fitness levels, all with their own unique perspective on things.
Use specific references or citations within your post: Dr Fuhrman says that dieters need to avoid refined carbohydrates such as white breads, pastas, sugary cereals and baked goods as well as processed foods with added sugars or hydrogenated fats. He also advises avoiding fried foods and those high in saturated fat like red meat, dairy products and full-fat cheese. Instead he recommends eating more whole grains such as brown rice, oats, quinoa and whole wheat pasta; fruits; vegetables; beans; nuts; seeds and healthful oils like olive oil. He points out that exercise is important for weight loss but so is eating a healthy diet because exercise alone will not produce lasting results if you’re consuming a lot of calories from unhealthy food sources. Health blogs have been growing in popularity for years now. More and more individuals want to read about health issues from real doctors and health experts instead of from celebrities or journalists that may not really know what they’re talking about. That’s where health blogs come in – bloggers who provide advice on everything from dieting tips to improving fitness levels, all with their own unique perspective on things.

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