HYPERTENSION

Hypertension is also called high blood pressure is a common condition whereby the long-term force of blood contrary to the walls of your arteries as blood moves through it is high to a point it could lead to health problems like heart disease. The amount of blood pumped by your heart and the level of resistance to the flow of blood in your arteries are the determinants of blood pressure. This essentially means that the narrower your arteries and the more blood pumped by your heart, the higher the blood pressure. 

High blood pressure could lead to different health issues if left uncontrolled or untreated. Possible health problems include vision loss, heart failure, kidney disease and stroke. 

Causes

High blood pressure or hypertension is of two types. 

Essential or Primary high blood pressure

Essential high blood pressure tends to develop over the years and there's usually no identifiable cause. 

Secondary high blood pressure

In some situations, high blood pressure could be caused by an underlying condition. When this happens, it is called secondary high blood pressure. It tends to cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension and it tends to appear quite suddenly. Conditions that may lead to secondary high blood pressure include kidney problems, thyroid problems, adrenal gland tumors. Medications like decongestants, birth control pills, certain prescription drugs, over-the-counter pain relievers and cold remedies. 

There are also risk factors that need to be considered when it comes to thinking about high blood pressure. Some of these factors include

• Family history 
• Age
• Temperature 
• Being overweight or obsessed
• Ethnic background
• Smoking
• Lack of sleep
• Physical inactivity
• Intake of alcohol
• High-fat diet
• High salt intake
• Mental stress
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Psoriasis

Symptoms

A lot of people living with high blood pressure experience no symptoms or signs even when the blood pressure measurements get to dangerously high points. However, some people may have shortness of breath, nosebleeds or headaches. But these symptoms are not specific and will usually not occur until the blood pressure has gotten to a life-threatening or severe level. 

Treatment

Different factors influence the type of treatment for high blood pressure. Some of them include associated risks of developing a cardiovascular disease or stroke, very importantly its severity etc. 

• Slightly elevated blood pressure

If the blood pressure is slightly elevated above the normal level and the risk of developing the cardiovascular disease is considered to be low, the doctor could suggest certain lifestyle changes. 

• Moderately high blood pressure

In situations where the blood pressure is moderately high and the doctor thinks the risk of developing a cardiovascular disease in the next ten years is about 20% and above, the doctor could advise on lifestyle changes and prescribe medications for use. 

• Severe hypertension

The doctor will refer you to a specialist if your blood pressure levels are 180/110 mmHg or higher. 

High blood pressure can be lowered by making some lifestyle changes. Some of the lifestyle changes that could be made include regular exercise losing weight, sleeping well and practicing relaxation techniques.