Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Chronically elevated blood pressure can potentially lead to cardiovascular diseases and impact heart function. In case of high blood pressure, symptoms are not always apparent, and consequences can include heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. In this post, we are sharing more on hypertension diagnosis and treatments.
Table of Contents
Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
Unfortunately, almost one-third of all patients, who have hypertension, are not aware of it. There are no mild symptoms of high blood pressure, and by the time symptoms become apparent, considerable damage is already done. This is one of the precise reasons why people should get checked for high blood pressure. If the blood pressure is unusually high, you may have symptoms like severe headaches, fatigue, nosebleed, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and blurry vision.
Diagnosis
A device called a sphygmomanometer is used for monitoring blood pressure. You can visit your regular healthcare physician for blood pressure routine checks, or can even have a device for personal use. If you check your blood pressure notes, you will find two numbers. These refer to systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic blood pressure shows the max pressure when the heart is pumping blood to the body, while diastolic blood pressure measures lower pressure, when the heart is getting filled with blood. The normal blood pressure is 120/80, where 120 is systolic blood pressure and 80 is diastolic blood pressure.
Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure for a period, to come up with a diagnosis. Just because your blood pressure was elevated once doesn’t always mean you have hypertension. Additional tests like Electrocardiogram and Echocardiogram can be recommended.
Treatments
If someone is diagnosed with mild hypertension, lifestyle changes can be recommended. A patient who has systolic blood pressure>130 and diastolic pressure >80 will need medical attention. Here’s an overview of treatment options –
- Lifestyle changes. If a patient is likely to suffer from hypertension from the existing symptoms, doctors may recommend lifestyle modifications. More exercise, a healthy diet, and quitting smoking can help.
- Drugs. There are different kinds of drugs that can be considered for hypertension, including ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, Beta-blockers, and diuretics. Alpha-blockers and Renin inhibitors are also recommended for some patients.
Keep in mind that getting checked for hypertension is important. Often people confuse the symptoms with other heart conditions, which is precisely why high blood pressure is called a silent killer.
Understanding Prehypertension
A patient has prehypertension, or the Stage 1 of hypertension, if their systolic pressure is between 120 mmHg and139 mmHg, and diastolic pressure is between 80 mmHg and 89 mmHg. Prehypertension is an indicator that a person may suffer from high blood pressure in the future. While there is no direct treatment for prehypertension, lifestyle modifications, especially focus on diet and exercise, can minimize the risk of hypertension.
What Are The Risk Factors?
There are a few standard risk factors for hypertension, including age. People over the age of 60 are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure. Ethnicity, alcohol and tobacco use are other risk factors. Studies show that men are at a higher risk of hypertension than women. Other risk factors include genetics, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, high cholesterol, salt-rich diet, high fat diet, and inactive lifestyle.
Check With A Doctor
If you have hypertension running in your immediate family, getting checked by a physician is highly important. Just because you have prehypertension doesn’t mean you have to start medications right away. An active lifestyle with a healthy diet is your key to keeping your heart healthy and avoiding cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Don’t forget to frequently check your blood pressure, at least once every month.