Hypertension, referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. It was previously referred to as nonarterial hypertension[citation needed], but in current usage, the word “hypertension”[citation needed] without a qualifier normally refers to arterial hypertension.

Hypertension: Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. There are generally no symptoms of high blood pressure, so you usually don’t feel it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have hypertension don’t know it. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure.

Causes of Hypertension

Race. African-Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than their Caucasian counterparts.

Gender. Men run a greater overall risk for developing high blood pressure than women do. However, women who are postmenopausal, especially if 20 pounds or more overweight, are at risk for developing high blood pressure.

Primary, or essential, high blood pressure accounts for 95% of all cases of hypertension.3Secondary high blood pressure, which is caused by another disease or medicine, is less common.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Mitral stenosis

Mitral regurgitation

The other major type of hypertension, termed Secondary Hypertension, has an identifiable cause. It is due to disease. For example, kidney (renal) hypertension is due to high blood pressure within the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. The underlying cause is kidney disease or conditions like atherosclerosis, which narrow or block the renal arteries. Secondary hypertension may also result from hormonal imbalances, particularly in the kidney’s adrenal glands.

Experts believed that this system evolved millions of years ago to protect early humans during drought or stress by retaining salt and water and narrowing blood vessels to ensure adequate blood flow and repair injured tissue. With industrialization, however, this system wreaks havoc on modern humans by intensifying the effects of high-salt diets and sedentary lifestyle. Of particular importance in these harmful responses are the hormone aldosterone and a peptide (which are components of proteins) called angiotensin II.

Treatment of Hypertension

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications.

There are many different medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure. Such medicines include:

Alpha blockers

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)

Calcium channel blockers

Beta blockers. These medications reduce the workload on your heart, causing your heart to beat slower and with less force. When prescribed alone, beta blockers don’t work as well in blacks — but they’re effective when combined with a thiazide diuretic.

Originally posted 2009-11-01 08:35:59. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Hypertension a common disease that result from the consistent constant elevation of the systolic or diastolic pressure above 140/90 mmhg , the diagnosis of hypertension requires that elevated readings be present on atleast three occassions during several weeks .Hypertension causes no symptoms to motivate a person to seek treatment . When symptoms do occur , they signify either secondary causes of hypertension or effects of sustained elevation of Bp on target organs . When you consider the types of hypertension , it is of two types – primary hypertension and secondary hypertension .

PRIMARY HYPERTENSION :
It accounts for more than 90% of all cases and has no known case , although it is theorised that genetic factor , hormonal changes , and alterations in sympathetic tone all play a role in its development .

SECONDARY HYPERTENSION :
It develops as a consequence of particular underlying disease or condition . Now let us see the major risk factors of hypertension according to its types ,

Primary hypertension – The identified risk factors in primary hypertension are as follows :
1 , age – onset between 30 – 50 years of age , increases over 65 years of age .
2 , sex – males in young adulthood and early middle age , females after the age of 55 years .
3 , race – African-Americans as in caucasians .
4, family history .
5 , obesity .
6 , smoking .
7 , high salt diet .
8 , elevated serum lipids .
9 , alcohol .
10,sedentary life style .
11 , diabetes mellitus .
12 , socio-economic status .
13 ,emotional stress .

Secondary hypertension – Major risk factors of secondary hypertension include the following ,
1 , Coarctation or congenital narrowing of the aorta .
2 , Renal disease such as renal artery stenosis parenchymal disease and reno vascular disease . 3 , Endocrine disorders such as pheochromocytoma , cushing syndrome , hyper and primary aldosteronism .
4 , Neurologic disorders such as brain tumours , quadriplegia and head injury .
5 , Sleep apnoea .
6 , Medications , oestrogen replacement theraphy , oral contraceptive pills , and non – steroidal anti – inflammatory drugs .
7 , Pregnancy – induced hypertension . These are the major risk factors of hypertension which should be known to all , to prevent the hypertension

Originally posted 2009-11-08 06:48:47. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Risk factors may be related to the environment, genetics and family history, smoking, diet, hormones, how much sodium (salt) you have in your diet or even the level of stress in your life.

Hypertension also increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack, and can lead to other diseases as well as make other health conditions even worse. It is important to your health and your future to learn about the risk factors and by controlling and altering what you have control over you can change you decrease your risks.

? Exposure to environmental pollutants, such as tobacco smoke, vapors around the office, etc.

? Obesity – being over weight is a factor in hypertension, especially as one ages. Proper diet and weight loss may aid in reversing the associated problems.

? Lack of exercise – Daily ‘aerobic’ exercise (walking, swimming, running, cycling, etc.) can be very beneficial in decreasing blood pressure, as well as helping with your weight .

? Stress – we could all benefit from a little less of this. Exercise also helps with reducing your stress.

? Lower Alcohol Consumption – Drinking excessively doubles your chances of suffering high blood pressure or a stroke.

? Medicines and prescriptions (Ritalin, hormones, steroids, anti-rejection medications), your doctor and pharmacist should be intimately aware of what you are taking. Illegal drugs can also cause you problems (amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy).

? Diet – a diet high in sodium puts strain on the blood vessels by increasing the fluid volume in the body (salt attracts water)

These risks can be helped or even controlled with the help of a doctor

? Pregnancy – the extra volume of blood, plus toxemia from high dietary salt intake can put a great strain on the vascular system.

? Kidney failure – the body is unable to remove fluids from the body causing an increase in fluid volume and blood pressure.

? Right-sided Heart Failure – decreases the hearts ability to pump high volumes of fluid through the heart causing a back-up into the blood vessels

Risk Factors over which you have no control

? Family history of hypertension especially onset before the age of 50.

? Age -your increases your chances of getting hypertension

? Gender (male or female)

? Race (Afro-American)

? Nervous System disorders

Secondary Hypertension

While the single cause of Primary hypertension is not known, the cause(s) of Secondary hypertension is and it is usually caused by another condition or disease. Conditions such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes, kidney disease, or even from medications and pregnancy (Gestational hypertension and is one of the reasons your doctor wants to see you more frequently near the end).

Hypertension can be caused either by taking medications or by stopping medications too quickly. Medications such as corticosteroids, birth control pills and other hormones, migraine medications, and medications used for chronic anemia (erythropoieten). Also a number of over-the-counter medications such as cough/cold medications and medications for asthma can cause hypertension.

Medications for hypertension can also cause a rebound hypertension if they are not weaned off of slowly.

Street drugs that can cause hypertension include: alcohol, amphetamines, ecstasy (MDMA and derivatives), and cocaine.

A small number of people experience malignant hypertension. This is an extremely high blood pressure that causes swelling of the optic nerve (the nerve that control vision). This is considered a medical emergency. Many of your vital organs are in serious risk of injury including your brain, your eyes, blood vessels, heart, and kidneys.

Originally posted 2009-11-03 08:40:50. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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