What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a common health condition that affects most adults. It is when the blood forces itself against the arterial walls with such intensity that it wears out the arteries over time and damages it completely. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and if not managed within the normal healthy range, it can escalate and cause a myriad of health issues. Let us explore some symptoms of hypertension, what causes it, and some side effects of hypertension through this blog.
How to Know if Someone Has Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)?
The symptoms of hypertension can be determined through regular health checkups. The doctor uses a blood pressure monitor to check on your blood pressure levels and monitor hypertension signs and symptoms. Some readings/values show up when blood pressure is checked using the device. A normal blood pressure value range is somewhere around 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension signs symptoms are known to be hidden. It is usually detected only through regular monitoring of a person’s health. High-value readings on the blood pressure device indicate the risk of many severe health complications. So the sooner these symptoms are managed, the better it is.
What Causes Hypertension?
The symptoms of hypertension can be caused by various reasons like high salt intake, chronic stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and sometimes even genetics. But other than these other reasons also cause the symptom of hypertension.
Certain medications: Some medications like antidepressants, nervous system stimulants like amphetamines, ADHD medications. Some medications are used to suppress the immune system called immunosuppressants that can also cause hypertension signs symptoms. Intake of birth control pills can also alter blood pressure levels. Some commonly available painkillers are also known to cause the symptoms of hypertension.
Kidney disease: The kidneys play an important role in managing blood pressure levels by fluid balance and filtering out waste from the blood. But when the kidneys are damaged, then these mechanisms are disrupted and lead to symptoms of hypertension. When kidneys are damaged, it can lead to the retention of water and sodium in the body. This can increase the blood volume, leading to an increase in the blood pressure level. Kidney damage can also lead to changes in the blood vessels. This can increase the tension of blood flow and increase blood pressure. Kidney disease can disrupt the RAS system which plays a crucial role in blood pressure regulation and this can cause hypertension signs symptoms.
Recreational Drug Usage: Certain drugs consumed for recreational purposes like cocaine, marijuana/weed, nicotine in cigarettes, methamphetamine. All these drugs can constrict the blood vessels, give rise to the symptoms of hypertension and in the long run completely damage the heart.
Usage of Tobacco: Consistent tobacco usage can damage the arterial walls. It also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Its use can increase heart rate and show the side effects of hypertension. Tobacco use can lead to atherosclerosis in the long run and lead to heart failure, its use has no benefits and can damage your heart health.
What are the Complications of Hypertension?
Heart attack or Stroke: Hypertension increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis, which is the formation of plaque on the walls of the arteries. This can cause blood clots that block the flow of blood to the heart and lead to heart attack. Hypertension strains the heart muscle such that it has to work much harder to function normally. This increases the blood pressure level. High blood pressure can destroy the arteries in the brain, this can easily increase the risk of a brain hemorrhage or stroke.
Aneurysm: Hypertension can make the blood vessels of the arteries bulge, this is called an aneurysm. This can eventually weaken the arteries and eventually burst. This internal burst/bleeding can be life-threatening.
Failure of Heart: High blood pressure can increase cardiac workload. This can increasingly thicken the heart muscle due to the stress it has to go through to push blood through. Over time this can impair its ability to pump blood effectively and lead to heart failure.
Problems of Kidneys and Eyes: Another one of the side effects of hypertension is that in the long term, it can damage the blood vessels of the eyes and cause many vision problems. Kidneys, as mentioned earlier, play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure levels and hypertension can damage the blood vessels of the kidneys, derailing their ability to perform its important functions.
Dementia: Hypertension can soon escalate to cognitive issues like dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease. Hypertension can cause small strokes that can cause white spots in the brain. This leads to slow cognitive impairment.
FAQs
1) How is Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood pressure is measured using a device called the sphygmomanometer, or the blood pressure monitor/ blood pressure gauge. It has an inflatable cuff that is put around the person’s arm to measure blood pressure levels. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mmHg, whereas a 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered a threat.
2) Can Hypertension be Asymptomatic?
Hypertension is sometimes referred to as a ‘silent killer’. This is mainly because of its inability to show symptoms, especially in the beginning stages. It can only be monitored or detected using regular health assessments.
3) Can stress contribute to or worsen hypertension symptoms?
Chronic stress can indeed increase the risk of hypertension and its symptoms. You can manage stress by regular exercise to reduce hypertension or indulging in any kind of physical activity.