High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against the artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.{{more}}

Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood that the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. The more blood that the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure will be.

A person can have high blood pressure (hypertension), or ‘pressure’ as it is called here, for years without any symptoms. Thus hypertension is commonly referred to as the silent killer. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and to the heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.

A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren’t specific and usually don’t occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

High blood pressure has many risk factors, including: age, race, family history, being overweight or obese, not being physically active, smoking, unhealthy diet high in salt, alcohol abuse, and stress, among others.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to many complications, such as heart attack and stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, kidney diseases, eye problems and eventually death.

In understanding your numbers, blood pressure measurements fall into four general categories:

o Normal blood pressure – Your blood pressure is normal if it’s below 120/80 mm Hg.

o Prehypertension – Prehypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg. Prehypertension tends to get worse over time.

o Stage 1 hypertension – Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99 mm Hg.

o Stage 2 hypertension – More severe hypertension, stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher.

Remember to know your numbers and seek medical attention to prevent the complication of high blood pressure.

Dr Rosmond Adams is a medical doctor and a public health specialist.

He may be emailed at adamsrosmond@gmail.com