Hypertension or high blood pressure is the most common and growing issue in many people around the globe. According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), the number of people living with hypertension has now reached a whopping level of 1.28 billion.
The term hypertension however needs to be understood properly.
You may observe a sudden or abrupt increase in your blood pressure even when you are afraid of something. Or you can also experience high blood pressure when you find yourself in a stressful condition.
So should that be also classified as High Blood Pressure?
Well, we will try to answer these questions and we will try to get you aware of all the possible associations of hypertension and its effect on heart health and on your body.
Table of Contents
What is Hypertension(High Blood Pressure) Meaning?
Hypertension means that your heart is putting some extra effort and pressure to pump the blood in your body. As we said that it might happen when you find yourself in stressful situations.
So to put it in a nutshell, 2 to 3 consistent higher readings of blood pressure may indicate that you are on the verge of developing chronic hypertension that can lead to life-threatening situations if left untreated.
How to Decipher Blood Pressure?
In order to understand hypertension meaning more clearly it is necessary to get a basic understanding of blood pressure. The most common and frequently used method to check blood pressure is by using the blood pressure apparatus. The one that puts a cuff around the upper arm and then the machine records two values.
But what are those values? And how are they important in hypertension?
So the two values by which your blood pressure is measured are called
- Systolic value
- Diastolic value
The upper value is called the systole value and the normal value corresponds to 120 mmHg.
And the other value is the lower one is called diastole level which corresponds to 80 mmHg.
These values put in simple words are a measure of your heart activity.
Now as you are aware of the normal values and are also aware of hypertension meaning. Let us just jump straight into the types of hypertension and analyze the stages of hypertension.
Stages of Hypertension
As we have already discussed, getting higher readings on 1 check may not indicate that you are suffering from hypertension. There should be at least 2 to 3 occasions where your blood pressure is measured. If you have higher numbers on these occasions then it might hint at getting high blood pressure.
Stage 1
In this case, the blood pressure varies from the normal values but is within a tolerable range
- The systolic pressure, in this case, is around 130 to 139
- The diastolic pressure, in this case, is around 80 to 89mmHg
Stage 2
In a more dangerous case, where you might observe persistently dangerous high levels
- The systolic pressure, in this case, will be around 140 mmHg or higher
- The diastolic pressure, in this case, will be around 90 mmHg or higher
If you observe that you are having stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension, this means that you are at the apex of developing certain fatal heart conditions.
This is the time when you should make necessary changes in your lifestyle so that hypertension and its effects on heart health can be curtailed easily.
Hypertensive Crisis
This is straight away a medical emergency and can be treated only with the best possible treatments. With that being said it implies that one should hurry to hospitals if they observe such high levels of high blood pressure.
Causes of Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
There are many causes of hypertension. There are many sources that have also shown the relationship between genetics, family history, and hypertension.
This issue runs in families. That means you might have higher chances of hypertension if anyone of your parents or close family may have high blood pressure.
But the causes of hypertension are varied and they may include the followings
- Being overweight
- A consuming diet that is high in cholesterols
- Consuming excessive alcohol
- Being sedentary or torpid in lifestyle
Other Health Issues
There are several health issues as well that might increase your blood pressure.
The diseases in their succession in your body affect the heart health making considerable differences in blood pressure
- Kidney impairment
- Diabetes
- Adrenal or thyroid disorders
- Pregnancy – The case of pregnancy is different from other mentioned health issues. There are different reasons why hypertension is observed in pregnant women.
But if you are pregnant and have high blood pressure then you don’t have to worry, as we have got you covered. You can find out simple ways to prevent high BP during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Hypertension
As hypertension is referred to as a silent killer that implies that there are no significant symptoms.
But on the baseline, some individuals face the following symptoms if the blood pressure is dangerously high
- Nose bleeding
- Severe headache
- Vision problems
- Vomiting
If you observe any of the above-mentioned symptoms then seek medical care on an urgent basis.
Hypertension And Its Effects On Heart Health
If your blood pressure is very high and you have not treated it properly by taking medicines and bringing changes to your lifestyle then there are grave side effects of it.
Hypertension has pernicious effects on heart health, leading to heart attacks and many other complications.
- Heart attack
The major precursor of heart attacks is hypertension. High blood pressure may decrease blood flow and oxygen levels and may adversely affect the arteries and veins. This in turn will affect the heart leading to heart attacks.
Side: Get yourself updated with these 11 best heart exercises to keep your heart healthy and strong.
Besides this the major side effects hypertension can pose on your body may include the following:
- Kidney failure
- Liver impairment
- Stroke
Cure of Hypertension
As they say, prevention is always better than cure. So precautionary measures should be adopted both in diet and lifestyles.
Following are some of the preventive measures that one can take to avoid hypertension:
1- Eat Healthily
One should eat a healthy and balanced diet with just the right amount of fats and carbohydrates in it.
The amount of sodium should be kept in a balance and fruits and vegetables that are best for health should be incorporated into the diet.
2- Trim Down the Weight
It is necessary to keep your weight in check. It is a general belief that obese people do have more chances of contracting cardiovascular diseases. The weight should be according to body mass index.
If you are planning to shed some extra pounds and you find yourself perplexed, then don’t worry we have the 8 best diet plans for weight loss to begin your journey with.
4- Cut Down on Smoking and Alcohol
It is essential to cut down or limit smoking. If you smoke then it may badly affect your heart health.
Not only smoking will make you prone to high blood pressure but also it will make you more susceptible to frequent heart attacks.
The same goes for alcohol and beverage intake. One should try to limit the intake of these beverages that can severely affect your heart.
5- Making your Life Active
Lifestyle changes play a very important role in your overall health and stability. If you find yourself lying on the couch for a greater part of your day then it is time to make changes in your sedentary life.
Walking, be it in the morning time or evening time, or adding any other recreational outdoor activity to your day-to-day routine will help to keep your heart healthy and strong.
Hypertension is often regarded as a silent killer which means you will be having blood pressure and still you will not be aware of that.
But if you get to know that you have high blood pressure or hypertension then consult a medical practitioner right away.
There are certain ways that can help to bring down the blood pressure to normal levels so that hypertension and its effects on heart health can be brought down to lower levels.
- Medications
- Meditation
Medications are often prescribed by the medical practitioner and should be consumed for either life long span or for some months depending upon the case.
Let us Wrap Up!
Hypertension is a serious medical condition that needs treatment right away. If it is not treated then it can lead to life-threatening conditions as it affects nearly every organ of your body.
The above-mentioned in-depth guide will help you to understand hypertension’s meaning and its effects on the overall body.
Treatment of hypertension is no doubt available but to get the best possible solution to consult the best general physician and keep yourself healthy and fit. To read more on healthcare issues, visit our website healthwire.
