What is High blood pressure?
High blood pressure (hbp) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.
The top number, the systolic blood pressure, corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The bottom number, the diastolic pressure, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction. The diastolic pressure reflects the lowest pressure to which the arteries are exposed.
An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). These complications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications.
It was previously thought that rises in diastolic blood pressure were a more important risk factor than systolic elevations, but it is now known that in people 50 years or older systolic hypertension represents a greater risk.
Affecting approximately one in four adults in the United States, hypertension is clearly a major public health problem.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure tends to rise with age, unless you take steps to prevent or control it.
Certain medical problems, such as chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, and sleep apnea, may cause blood pressure to rise. Certain medicines, such as asthma medicines (for example, corticosteroids) and cold-relief products, also may raise blood pressure.
In some women, blood pressure can go up if they use birth control pills, become pregnant, or take hormone replacement therapy.
Women taking birth control pills usually have a small rise in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. If you already have high blood pressure (HBP) and want to use birth control pills, make sure your doctor knows about your HBP. Talk to him or her about how often you should have your blood pressure checked and how to control it while taking the pill.
Taking hormones to reduce the symptoms of menopause can cause a small rise in systolic blood pressure. If you already have HBP and want to start using hormones, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. If you decide to take hormones, find out how to control your blood pressure and how often you should have it checked.
Children younger than 10 years who have HBP often have another condition that’s causing it (such as kidney disease). Treating the underlying condition may resolve the HBP.
The older a child is when HBP is diagnosed, the more likely he or she is to have essential hypertension. This means that doctors don’t know what’s causing the HBP.
How Is High Blood Pressure Treated?
If you have high blood pressure or are at higher risk, get advice and help from your doctor. A lowered blood pressure can prevent complications of high blood pressure, including heart attack and heart disease.
Your treatment depends on your blood pressure reading. If you are pre-hypertensive, your doctor will probably ask you to make changes to your lifestyle such as eating better and exercising. Drugs probably won't be used unless you are at high risk for coronary heart failure, heart attack, coronary heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke.
You may not have heard of pre-hypertension, which means you don't have high blood pressure but you are on the verge of developing it. If you are pre-hypertensive, your blood pressure reading is in the range of 120 to 139 for systolic (the top number) and 80 to 89 for diastolic (the bottom number). This classification is a warning to shape up your lifestyle.
If you have stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension, that means you need medication and lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure.
The threshold for treatment is lower for people with diabetes and kidney disease because their conditions place them at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases. Doctors usually will start medications when these patients have a systolic reading of 130 or higher and a diastolic number of 80 or higher.
Even if you feel fine, never stop taking your medications without talking to your doctor. High blood pressure does not have symptoms, but can cause serious and permanent damage if it is uncontrolled.