The World Health Organization has identified hypertension, or high blood pressure, as the leading cause of heart related deaths. More than 50% of the people living with hypertension worldwide are unaware of their condition, the reason why it is called THE SILENT KILLER.
What is blood pressure (BP)
It is a measure of the pressure your heart needs to pump blood through your arteries around your body. It is actually the sum of resistance against blood flow by the walls of the arteries.
What is high blood pressure (the red zone)
BP above 140/90 mmHg if measured in millimeter mercury
or
above 16/10 kPa if measured in kilo Pascal
What is pre-hypertension (the yellow zone)
A BP between 120/80mmHg to 140/90mmHg
or
between 16/10kPa to 19/12kPa
It is a caution zone, where measures should be taken to hypertension
What is an ideal blood pressure (the green zone)
120/80 mmHG or 16/10kPa
Higher values could be tolerated in older patients
What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure rarely produces symptoms, that is why it is called the THE SILENT KILLER. In some cases however it may cause headaches(especially in the morning and at the back of the head or neck), dizziness, impaired
vision, buzzing in the ears (termed tinnitus), chest pain or restlessness.
What causes high blood pressure
- Predisposition with increasing age
- Overweight
- Smoking
- Excess alcohol consumption
- High salt intake
- Stress and Depression
- pregnancy induced hypertension
Why is high blood pressure dangerous
It could lead to
- stroke
- heart failure
- kidney failure
- loss of vision
- other bleeding complications
What can be done to avoid or reduce high blood pressure
- Weight reduction ( keep your BMI between 18 and 25 ; calculate your BMI here)
- Reduce salt intake in food
- Stop smoking
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Low Cholesterol diet
- Regular exercise ( at least 30 minutes walk each day)
- Regular monitoring
- from the age of 18 to 25 at least one blood pressure control every 2 to 5 years
- from the age of 25 to 35 at least one blood pressure measurement every 2 years
- from 35 yr and above at least one blood pressure measurement a year
Are there medications to treat high blood pressure
Yes. In most cases a change in life style as mentioned above is the best remedy. If this is not sufficient, medication should be used . There are various groups of medication used for this. In some cases a combination of more than two drugs is needed. Treatment of high blood pressure is a continuous process so do not stop taking your medications without consulting your doctor.
What is the difference between gestational hypertension or pregnancy induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia
It is blood pressure higher than 140/80mmHg which only shows up during the second half of pregnancy and the pregnant woman has no protein in her urine. If protein is present in urine and blood pressure is above 140/80mmHg then it is an absolute emergency called pre-eclampsia. Women with this condition need a doctor’s attention because it could rapidly proceed to complications like eclampsia (clonic-tonic seizures) or HELLP-Syndrom.
Watch our video on High Blood Pressure in PIDGIN
