Understanding High Blood Pressure: Causes, Risks, and Effective Management
Often known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure nearly affects half of the adults in the United States. It’s a common yet important condition to look out for, as it can show no symptoms at all. This can lead to years of being undiagnosed, allowing serious health issues to surface. However, being able to know the risk factors, treatments, and possible ways to prevent this condition from affecting you and your loved ones, can lower the chances and risks of developing it.
What is High Blood Pressure?:
High blood pressure is a common condition many people face worldwide. This condition involves a consistent high force of the blood pushing against an individual’s artery walls. This means that their heart has to work harder in order to pump more blood. Blood pressure measured as 130/80 millimeters of mercury or higher is considered hypertension. Left untreated, this condition may result in many consequences such as strokes, heart attack, and other serious health conditions. With that being said, it is important to have your blood pressure checked at least every two years starting at age eighteen in order to keep a lookout for your overall well-being.
Causes of High Blood Pressure:
There are many causes of high blood pressure. Lifestyle factors for one, such as unhealthy diet and smoking are one of the leading causes of high blood pressure. Excessive salt consumption and a diet rich in saturated and trans fats are known to cause harm to the body, especially if the individual is limiting vegetables and fruits in their diet while maintaining physical inactivity. Other causes of high blood pressure can include environmental factors. If there’s a lot of air pollution in an individual's environment, it can enter their bloodstream and constrict blood vessels, temporarily raising blood flow. Individuals who have medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney diseases can have a higher chance of being affected by high blood pressure. As we get older, the risk of getting high blood pressure increases, which is why older adults are recommended to get checkups more frequently than younger adults. Other causes include high amounts of stress, genetics, and medications.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure:
Mentioned earlier, there are rarely any noticeable symptoms of high blood pressure and can often lead to more complicated conditions over time. However, many people do experience similar symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be more noticeable symptoms to look out for, including, severe headaches, vision problems, chest pain, and more. It’s always best to have your blood pressure checked early, especially since symptoms won’t show until a more severe stage.
Treatments for High Blood Pressure:
Treatments for high blood pressure are usually changing your lifestyle in many different ways. Your healthcare provider may recommend certain ways for you to make lifestyle changes. Some changes include changing your diet and limiting salt intake, getting regular exercise, limiting alcohol, getting good enough sleep, and more. If lifestyle changes aren’t effective, your healthcare provider may provide medications to lower your blood pressure. The type of medication used to treat blood pressures varies, depending on your overall health and how high your blood pressure is. It can take awhile to find medications or even combinations of medications to see which one works best for you. Medications used to treat high blood pressure include water pills, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, and more. Individuals who are prescribed blood pressure medicines should always take it as prescribed and never skip doses. This can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure. Always follow the treatment plan and make sure to talk to your healthcare providers if any issues arise.
How to Prevent High Blood Pressure:
There are a variety of ways to prevent high blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing it. First, following a healthy eating plan can help keep your blood pressure normal. Make sure to keep your diet balanced by adding a mix of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. While keeping a balanced diet, make sure to also cut down on sodium. Keeping it down to below 1,500 milligrams a day can reduce high blood pressure. Second, keeping a healthy weight is one of the many ways that can help with blood pressure. Losing any excess weight while staying active will maintain blood pressure levels to a healthier range. Even simple walking each day can keep blood pressure at bay. Lastly, make sure to limit alcohol intake. Alcohol consumption can harm our bodies in many ways, including increasing the risk of developing high blood pressure, so make sure to drink in moderation.
In conclusion, high blood pressure, or also known as hypertension, affects millions of lives across the globe. It can often come off as a surprise because it’s a condition known for having no symptoms at all until a later stage. Individuals who are diagnosed with this condition need to follow instructions from their healthcare providers on ways to treat high blood pressure. Getting regular check-ups, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy, balanced diet, and more can lower your risks of developing this condition.
Written By: Amy Lian
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17649-blood-pressure
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410
https://medlineplus.gov/highbloodpressure.html
