Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. Hypertension is a medical condition in which the force of blood which pushes against your artery walls is high. Hypertension gets developed when the force of blood becomes high from time to time or consistently. High blood pressure is a common ailment especially in older people which can be managed but if not treated, may turn to a serious condition.
High blood pressure or hypertension is usually called silent killer because it commonly doesn’t show any symptom to the patient. It takes so much time before someone knows that he or she is suffering from hypertension. The major things that causes hypertension are genetic factors. Hypertension can be hereditary and that’s why we often see that some parents pass it on to their kids. Other causes of hypertension may be medications, age, obesity, sleep disorders or even lifestyle.
There are three major types of hypertension. The first is the primary hypertension which is the most common type of hypertension which is based on age and lifestyle of the patient. Then, there is a secondary hypertension is a type which is linked to another health issue or the result of a kind of medication. Then, there is the white coat hypertension which occurs when the blood pressure may be normal especially at home but rises in some particular settings like the hospital setting.
Hypertension doesn’t come easy. It has its complications as well. Heart diseases like heart attack is one of the common complications of hypertension. When there is increased pressure against your arteries, hypertension will lead to heart attack.
Angina is also another complication of heart attack. Angina is known as a chest pain which indicates the presence of hypertension and this is due to the changes in the structure of the heart.
Other complications are heart failure, vision loss, kidney disease or stroke.
The best way to diagnose hypertension is through the blood pressure check. Just as we know that hypertension doesn’t come with symptoms, the best way to know is checking the blood pressure from time to time. This is why it is good to always check one’s blood pressure so you can know if you are having hypertension or not.
This can be monitored by going to the hospital regularly or monitoring from home.
There isn’t a total cure for high blood pressure. Yes, it can be managed as long as there are treatments for it but hypertension or high blood pressure can never go away. To treat or manage high blood pressure, you have to work on lowering your blood pressure. One of those ways are having a healthy diet. A healthy diet will aim at lowering your blood pressure and regulating it.
It’s also necessary to keep a healthy weight so that the blood pressure can be lowered. As we know, obesity is one of the causes of high blood pressure so reducing one’s weight will help. Other ways to manage and treat high blood pressure is cutting down on salt, limiting alcohol and having regular exercise.
High blood pressure can be managed when you work towards lowering the blood pressure and with the help of your doctor, that will surely happen. Also, it can be managed as long as you adhere to its medications. There are some medications given to patients so their blood pressure can be lowered. If these medications are taken from time to time, it will be managed.
High blood pressure or hypertension is an ailment that deserves or needs attention. It is common and nothing to worry too much about. It can be managed as well and there are so many people living with hypertension.
Hypertension will only claim one’s life if not treated or managed.
REFERENCES SOURCES
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4314-hypertension-high-blood-pressure
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373417
https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/hypertension-complications