Published: July 1, 2022
What is hypertension?
Blood pressure is the force that circulating blood exerts on the walls of the body’s arteries (the body’s major blood vessels). Hypertension means blood pressure is high.
Blood pressure is read as two numbers. The first (systolic) number interprets the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The second (diastolic) number represents the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
Hypertension is diagnosed if systolic blood pressure readings are ≥ 140 mmHg on both days and/or diastolic blood pressure readings are ≥ 90 mmHg on both days when measured on two different days.
Risk factors for hypertension
Controllable risk factors include unhealthy diet (excessive intake of salt, high saturated and trans fat, low fruit and vegetable intake), physical inactivity, smoking and drinking, and being overweight or obese.
Non-modifiable risk factors include family history of hypertension, age over 65, and comorbidities such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Symptoms of Hypertension
Most people with high blood pressure may have no symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to measure blood pressure regularly. Evaluation by a health professional is important to assess risk and related conditions.
What are complications of uncontrolled hypertension?
- Chest pain
- Heart attach
- Heart failure
- Irregular heart beat
- Stroke
- Kidney damage and can lead to Kidney failure (1)
Hypertensive Heart Disease
Hypertensive heart disease is the number one cause of death related to hypertension. It refers to a group of diseases including heart failure, ischemic heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy (excessive thickening of the heart muscle).
What should I do to lower the risk of heart disease?
- Control blood pressure
- Control cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Stay at a healthy weight
- Eat a healthy diet
- Keep regular exercise
- Limit alcohol
- Quite smoking
- Manage stress
- Manage diabetes
- Enough sleep
For more information, please visit the website below.
High Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Heart Disease
References
- Hypertension World Health Organization.[Accessed 30 May 2022]
- How to Prevent Heart Disease Medlineplus. [Accessed 30 May 2022]
- High Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Heart Disease WebMD LLC. [Accessed 30 May 2022]