Hypertension guide

While in the doctor's office, you expect to hear all the details relating to your high blood pressure. Yet, oftentimes this is not the case. The lack of discussion or full disclosure on the part of your doctor is related to two main factors 1) the complex nature of the underlying problem and 2) efforts to minimise and alleviate your concerns. Instead, your physician may focus on the medical procedures and management aimed at reducing the symptoms.

There are 3 hypertensive circumstances your doctor may find unnecessary to discuss with you:

1: Immediate Treatment for Hypertension

In order to diagnose a patient with high blood pressure a physician usually determines the patient's baseline number. This approach rules out any complementary or influencing factors that can temporarily elevate the blood pressure and establishes a basis for comparison.

Blood pressure in assessed as normal at: 120/80 mm Hg (millimetre of mercury). Any extreme variation to this model is often treated aggressively by physicians. Therefore, a sustained elevated reading above 140/90 mmHg is sound reason to diagnose a patient as hypertensive and a follow-up treatment plan implemented.

Deviations, however, occur in several instances for one or more reasons:

• A patient's blood pressure has reached the upper end of stage 1 (159/99 mm Hg) or is at stage 2 (>160/>100 mm Hg).

• The decision to err on the side of caution. Any noteworthy value above normal levels is cause for immediate medical attention. This is done particularly if the patient has one or more risk factors.

• Obesity and diabetes harbour strong risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Patients with these conditions are usually treated immediately with blood pressure lowering medications

2: Controlling Your Blood Pressure Naturally

High blood pressure can often be controlled through diet and exercise. Unless a patient has non-modifiable risk factors such as age, family history, gender, and cultural factors, then medications are considered to reduce complications.

A healthy lifestyle change in which 75% of foods eaten are plant based, along with regular exercise and calming meditations can positively impact a person's cardiovascular health.

3: Subtle Warning Signs in Women

Although tests for women are accomplished the same way as those for men, women are still extremely vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases. In fact, studies show that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States and often one of the most preventable. Because a woman's response to a myocardial infarction (heart attack) differs from men, often this difference results in a high degree of misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for women.

A doctor's appreciation of this fact is much greater now with research. Additionally, the role of heart associations and charities across the globe, have been impactful in raising awareness of women's health issues. Still, in a clinical setting women's health is insufficiently managed.

These outlines examine the primary instances where high blood pressure facts are not mentioned to the patient. Despite these circumstances doctor's primary objective is to diagnose, treat diseases and reduce risk factors, and as such a large learning curve is still to be overcome.

Nigel Le Monnier has over 20 years-experience as a qualified natural health professional in the UK. He is well known for giving intuitive and expert advice to people regarding natural approaches to correcting a wide range of illnesses and conditions. Nigel is now writing articles for a website solely devoted to bringing a comprehensive range of natural health advice to everyone. To find out more about natural remedies for high blood pressure visit his website at Natural Health 4 Life.

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What is hypertension?

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the increased rise in the pressure of blood in the arteries. It increases the risk of associated cardiovascular (heart) diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, failure of kidneys or heart, other vascular complications.

What are the blood pressure ranges?

Normal pressure of blood according to current guidelines is < 130 and < 85. In hypertension the treatment is influenced by the presence of other risk factors such as pre-existing heart diseases and diabetes.

A list of the hypertension ranges from normal to risk levels are given in the table below;

Category
Systolic (mm Hg)
Diastolic (mm Hg)
Optimal
<120
<80
Normal
<130
<85
High normal
130-139
85-89
Mild hypertension
140-159
90-99
Moderate hypertension
160-179
100-109
Severe hypertension
=180
=110
Isolated systolic hypertension
=140
<90
Source: J Hypertens 1999; 17(2): 151-183

What is blood pressure?

The heart supplies oxygenated or pure blood to all parts of the body through the help of vessels called arteries. The force with which the blood pushes against the walls of the artery is known as BP.

The heart pumps blood into the arteries as it is beating. The pressure exerted on the artery walls when it is being filled with blood is known as systolic pressure and is 120 normally.

The heart relaxes between the beats or pumping the blood into the arteries. This is the time when the pressure falls, and is known as diastolic pressure. The diastolic pressure is normally 80.

What causes hypertension?

Majority (about 95%) of patients have essential hypertension or primary hypertension. The main reasons behind this hypertension are known to be;

Genetic factors: hypertension tends to run in families and children of hypertensive parents tend to have a greater tendency of hypertension.

Fetal factors: low birth weight is known to be associated with subsequent hypertension. This may be due to the fact that the fetus adapts to the intrauterine under nutrition and which may bring about long term changes in the blood vessels.

Obesity: fat people are at a greater risk of hypertension as compared with normal people. Fat or obese people also show abnormal sleep tendencies which may cause further complications of hypertension.

Alcohol intake: research has shown a close association between alcohol consumption and increased pressure.

Sodium intake (salt intake): a high sodium intake is a major factor in increased BP. A shift from rural to urban lifestyle is also associated with an increase in salt uptake and hence an increase in the risk of high BP.

Stress: acute pain or stress can rise blood pressure, but the role of chronic stress in hypertension is still unknown.

Smoking

Ageing

Vitamin D deficiency

Changes in autonomic nervous system: the autonomic system is known to bring about indirect changes in the blood pressure levels.

Insulin resistance or Type II Diabetes: insulin resistance causes increased levels of insulin in blood, an intolerance of body towards glucose, decreased levels of high density lipids and all this is known to cause an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension.

Remaining percentage of population has secondary hypertension which is caused as a result of underlying diseases. This is known as secondary hypertension and it has a cause which can be essentially treated. These are;

Renal diseases such as diabetic nephropathy

Hormonal disorders

Cardiovascular diseases which are there by virtue of birth

Use of drug e.g. oral contraceptive pills, steroids, NSAID's, liqourice and vasopressin. These drugs may either cause hypertension or interfere in the action of drugs acting against hypertension.

Pregnancy: pregnancy induced hypertension is a disorder which goes after the delivery of the baby. Sometimes the hypertension is followed with an increased concentration of proteins in the urine. This condition is known as pre-eclampsia and may be fatal to the mother.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Sometimes the person with high BP can go for years without showing any outwardly symptoms. Therefore it is important that people go for regular checkups to avoid complications later on. The symptoms if at all present are;

Severe headache
Fatigue
Confusion
Dizziness
Nausea
Visual problems
Chest pain
Breathing problem
Irregular heartbeat
Blood in the urine

What are the target organs affected?

The target organs that are prone to be damaged as a result of prehypertension and systemic hypertension are kidney, other cardiovascular organs, and brain & retina. Various diseases that can be caused as a result of chronic hypertension are chronic kidney disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, dementia, stroke, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.

Glossary of terms

Stroke: A sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.

Myocardial infarction: Destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle.

Congestive heart failure: Inability to pump enough blood to avoid congestion in the tissues.

Dementia: Mental deterioration of organic or functional origin.

Ventricular tachycardia: Abnormally rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats per minute).

Ventricular fibrillation: Fibrillation of heart muscles resulting in interference with rhythmic contractions of the ventricles and possibly leading to cardiac arrest.

Pooja S. Banerjee is a pharmacist by profession, and an academician and researcher! Her passion for writing has made her foray into the world of content and medical writing!

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