Blood Pressure - Hypertension

Blood Pressure - Hypertension

Blood Pressure is a measure of the strength or force that the heart uses to pump blood around your body through Blood vessels. In other words, Blood pressure is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels due to pumping blood by the Heart through the circulatory system which usually refers to the pressure in large arteries of the systemic circulation.

             Before going into details of Blood Pressure, it is better to know about Blood first.

What is Blood?                                                                          

             Blood is a Body’s red fluid that circulates through veins and arteries throughout the body. It mainly acts as body’s transport system which supplies essential substances around the body, such as sugars, oxygen, hormones and removes cellular waste from the cells in the body.

             To more clear it, Blood is a body fluid in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. In vertebrates, it is composed of blood cells suspended in blood plasma.

Blood Pressure:-

             Whenever the blood of the body will act to transport essential substances to the body, definitely, it will transport with certain force and that measured force is called Blood Pressure.

 

              Blood Pressure is an important and vital force that moves blood through our circulatory system because oxygen and nutrients would not be pushed around our circulatory system to nourish tissues and organs without blood pressure. It delivers white blood cells and antibodies for immunity, and hormones such as insulin.

                    Blood pressure is one of the vital signs, along with the respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature. The heart creates blood pressure by forcing out blood when it contracts with every heartbeat.

                    Blood Pressure is the  pressure of circulating blood against the walls of arteries and other blood vessels.

                       Blood pressure changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active.

Types of Blood Pressure:-

                        There are two types of Blood Pressure:-

                                          1.  Systolic Pressure

2.   Diastolic Pressure

                        

                         Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called Systolic Pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the Diastolic Pressure.

                         Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the Systolic Pressure and Diastolic Pressure. Both are important. Usually, they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg. The top number is the Systolic and the bottom of the Diastolic. When the two measurements are written down, the systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."

                         Systolic Pressure & Diastolic Pressure can be defined simply as the maximum arterial pressure following the ejection of blood by heart is called Systolic Pressure and the lowest pressure in artery, which occurs just before ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, is called Diastolic Pressure.

                         Systolic measures the highest level your blood pressure reaches during heartbeats whereas Diastolic measures the pressure between beats.

                         Now it is well clear that Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is pumping; Diastolic pressure is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is resting between beats.                       

                          Normal Blood Pressure is 120/80 where 120 is Systolic and 80 is Diastolic. Systolic pressure is written on top and Diastolic Pressure is on the bottom.

 HYPERTENSION: -

                   A condition in which the force/pressure of the blood against the artery walls increases to unhealthy levels or, is too high is called High Blood Pressure or in medical term HYPERTENSION.

                   Similarly, when the force/ pressure of the Blood against the artery walls is inadequate to the unhealthy level or are too low is called Low Blood Pressure and in medical term HYPOTENSION.

                       Leaving high blood pressure untreated may damage the blood vessels. Hypertension is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and aneurysm. Keeping blood pressure under control is vital for preserving health and reducing the risk of these dangerous conditions.

Types of Hypertension: - There are two types of Hypertension:-

(A)    Primary Hypertension or Primary High Blood Pressure: - This type of Blood pressure is not related to another medical condition. Primary hypertension is diagnosed in the absence of an identifiable secondary cause. Approximately 90-95% of adults with hypertension have primary hypertension. Primary Hypertension is called Essential Hypertension.

 

(B)    Secondary Hypertension or Secondary High Blood Pressure:-This type of Blood Pressure is caused by another different type  medical condition like kidney, arteries, endocrine system heart and similar type severe medical condition. When a cause can be found,  the condition is called Secondary Hypertension.

 

Causes of Hypertension: -

The exact causes of high blood pressure or hypertension are not known, but several factors and conditions may play a role in its development e.g.

§  Smoking

§  Being overweight or obese

§  Lack of physical activity or Exercise

§  Excessive salt in the diet

§  Excessive alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day)

§  Stress

§  Old age

§  Genetics

§  Family history of high blood pressure

§  Chronic kidney disease

§  Adrenal and thyroid disorders

§  Sleep apnea

§  Blood plasma volume

§  Hormone activity in people who manage blood volume and pressure using medication.

Secondary hypertension has specific causes and is a complication of another health problem: -

•      Chronic kidney disease: - The kidneys no longer filter out fluid and                this excess fluid leads to hypertension.
•      Diabetes
•      Hyperthyroidism
•      Pregnancy
•      sleep apnea 
•   obesity

Symptoms of Hypertension: -

                             Sometimes or very often a person is diagnosed with

 High Blood Pressure or Hypertension by the Doctor without any prior symptoms   of hypertension. However, some of the symptoms may be seen as follows:-

·       Severe headache

·       Fatigue

·       Confusion

·       Difficulty in breathing

·       Vision issues

·       Rapid heartbeats

·       Irregular heartbeats

·       Blood in the urine

·       Chest pain

·       Pounding in neck

·       Pounding in ears

·       Nose Bleeding

·       Dizziness

These symptoms require immediate medical attention. Having any of the above symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. You could be having a hypertensive crisis that may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

       Persons prone to Hypertension:-

Ø                       People with family members having high blood pressure

Ø                       People who smoke

Ø                       People who stay with smokers

Ø                       Pregnant women

Ø                       Older adults

Ø                       People who are not physically active

Ø                       People who drink excessively

Ø                       People who consume too much salt.

Ø                       People with sleep apnea

       Regular check-up of  Blood Pressure is the only way to know the fact that             whether the person is suffering from Hypertension or not?

Untreated hypertension can lead to a risk of serious diseases like heart ailments, stroke, and kidney failure or eye problems.

Hypertension is treatable for everyone, but curable for a lucky few!

How to control /Overcome Hypertension:-

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure can be controlled by changing lifestyle, self-care & medication in the following manners:-

Self - care:-

·             Physical Exercise/ Yoga /Morning-Evening walk

·             Stress Management

·             No smoking

·             Home Blood Pressure monitoring

·             Low sodium diet

·             Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you're overweight or obese.

·            No alcohol or very limit or the restricted amount of alcohol you drink

·            Take more Potassium-rich foods.

·            Eating fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains.

·            Eating low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, and nuts.

·            Eliminating foods that are high in saturated fats, such as processed foods, full-      fat dairy products, and fatty meats.

·            Cut back of caffeine.

·           Meditation or deep breathing.

 

    Medication – For medication, must consult your Doctor.

Regarding Low Blood Pressure or Hypotension kindly see my next Blog page coming soon.