Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher) while the normal level is 120/80 mmHg or lesser. Hypertension is common but can become serious if not treated because people with high blood pressure may not have symptoms. The only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked regularly. Hypertension troubles heart. Overtime, a person with hypertension can develop Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) a condition in which heart muscles become thickened. Hypertension can cause heart blockage development faster, paralysis, and kidney damage.

What are the five different levels of hypertension?

The five main blood pressure ranges, as recognized by the American Heart Association, are:

·         Normal: Below 120/80.

·         Elevated: 120 to 129/less than 80.

·         Stage 1 high blood pressure: 130 to 139/80 to 89.

·         Stage 2 high blood pressure: 140 and above/90 and above.

·         Hypertension crisis: above 180/above 120.

What are the causes of Hypertension?

In case of 90 to 95% of high blood pressure patients, there is no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. So far, our Medical science has not found out the cause of hypertension but in many cases, it is observed that stress is the most likely cause of hypertension. A patients lab test chart has specific values for his/her cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight but no values can be assigned to their stress level as there are no measurement tools for hypertension.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Most people have hypertension without having any symptoms but some people have pounding feeling in head, sweating, and uneasy feeling. Over half of the people with hypertension are unware of their condition. Sometimes half of those who are aware of the condition do not take treatments. Everyone must understand that taking control of hypertension is essential to reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, end-stage renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, and the associated costs. Because many times, by the time people come to know that they have hypertension they already have experience brain stroke or heart attacks. The only way to find out is to get your blood pressure checked regularly. It is easier now to check your blood pressure and pulses at home with the blood pressure equipment to know your hypertension condition well in advance.

What are the types of high blood pressure?

There are two main types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary high blood pressure.

1) Primary high blood pressure is the most common type of high blood pressure. About 90 to 92% of people have this kind of hypertension. It has no causes or any medical condition associated with it. The real cause in such patients is their stress. What is stress then? Stress is nothing but our body’s reaction to everyday pressures or life events that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. A state of worry or mental tension is caused when we do not get what we want. When we do not get it then, there will be a pressure and feel frustrated. Stress can become unhealthy when it upsets your day-to-day functioning. Due to stress, a chemical called Adrenaline is released and it gives birth to hypertension. Getting high blood pressure chances will also increase when you have high body fat, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol level due to eating fat rich foods, lack of exercise, and family history.

2) Secondary high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition like kidney or arteries or heart or endocrine system damage, liver cirrhosis, some hormonal diseases like pheochromocytoma, Cushing syndrome. Examples include Sleep problems like sleep apnea. Less than 2 to 3 % people have this kind of hypertension.

3) Pregnancy induced hypertension

4) Medicine induced hypertension such as steroids

5) White coat hypertension happens when a patient goes in front of a doctor; his/her blood pressure goes high because of the tension about knowing their hypertension level.

Over 50% of people who have high blood pressure do not experience any symptoms unless are checked. A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg while up to 130 mmHg is considered as high normal blood pressure and over 130 mmHg is regarded reaching high blood pressure stage I and the stage II high blood pressure is considered to be 90/140 mmHg or higher. over 180 mmHg falls into the danger zone.

How hypertension damages heart?

Our heart’ left ventricular pumps blood into the veins/tubes. Hear beats 72 times per minute and 4320 times per hour and 1-lakh times in a day. Due to high blood pressure, when heart uses more pressure to pump the blood, its muscles become thick or hypertrophy happens. Later this leads to heart failure. For example, how a person who is going to gym everyday puts lots of pressure on his muscles and thickens them. The same thing happens to our heart muscles due to hypertension. Our heart valves are made for 120-mmHg pressure but if you put 140 or more pressure then internal part of the valves are damaged and cholesterol is deposited in the valves. High blood pressure always increases the risk of heart diseases such as Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) causes heart failure, and blockage cases heart attacks.

When to check blood pressure and how much does it vary during the day?

It is generally checked when a person is in the resting phase for at least 5 minutes, most ideally with empty stomach, Sit still and measure at the same time every day, take multiple readings and record the results, and Don't take the measurement over clothes. Take it first in the morning before eating or taking any medications. Take it again in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are the same.

For most people, a normal range of their systolic (upper) number will be around 120-130 mmHg during restful periods and up to 140-160 when active or stressed out. The diastolic (lower) number should generally stay between 80-90 mmHg while at rest and rise up to 95-100 during activities or stressful moments.

Hypertension is a silent killer. One in four adults in India have hypertension. It is a leading risk factor for death and disability worldwide.