Facts
Pumps work by generating pressure. Basically, too much pressure puts a strain on the arteries and on the heart itself. This can cause an artery to rupture or the heart to fail under the strain - in the worst case stopping altogether.
Blood pressure depends on a combination of two factors:
- how forcefully the heart pumps blood around the body
- how narrowed or relaxed your arteries are.
Hypertension occurs when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure.
Around 10 million people in the UK have high blood pressure - that's one in five !!
What is normal blood pressure?
Blood Pressure is measured using two numbers. Two figures are involved, the systolic and the diastoilc pressure..
- The first figure is the systolic blood pressure - the maximum pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts (beats) and pushes blood out into the body.
- The second figure is the diastolic blood pressure. This is the minimum pressure in the arteries between beats when the heart relaxes to fill with blood.
The systolic pressure is always listed first, then the diastolic pressure. A typical normal blood pressure reading would be 120/80 mmHg.
What's classed as high?
There is a natural tendency for blood pressure to rise with age due to the reduced elasticity of the arterial system. Age is therefore one of the factors that needs to be taken into account in deciding whether a person's blood pressure is too high.
In general terms, people with a systolic blood pressure consistently above 160mmHg and/or a diastolic pressure over 100mmHg need treatment to lower their blood pressure.
People with slightly lower blood pressures (140-159mmHg systolic or 90-99mmHg diastolic) may also need treatment if they have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, eg stroke or angina (chest pains).
What are the symptoms?
One of the big problems with high blood pressure is that it hardly ever causes symptoms.
This means it may go unnoticed until it causes one of its later complications such as a stroke or heart attack.
Despite the popularity of such ideas, nosebleeds and ruddy complexions are hardly ever caused by high blood pressure.
Severe hypertension can cause symptoms such as headaches, sleepiness, confusion.
What complications are caused by high blood pressure?
The most common complications are narrowing of the arteries, stroke, heart attack, herat failure, kidney failure and damage to the eye.
What causes hypertension?
For more than 90 per cent of people with high blood pressure, the cause is unknown. This is called 'primary' or 'essential hypertension'.
In the remaining 10 per cent or so, there is an underlying cause. This is called 'secondary hypertension'.
Some of the main causes for secondary hypertension can be chronic kidney diseases, diseases in the arteries supplying the kidneys, hormonal disturbances, endocrine tumours and chronic alcohol abuse.
What factors increase the risk of hypertension?
Anyone can suffer from high blood pressure, but certain factors can seriously aggravate hypertension and increase the risk of complications which include family history, obesity, smoking, diabetes type 1or 2, high alcohol intake, high salt intake, lack of excercise, certain medicines eg steroids.
What can I do?
Every adult near or past middle age should ‘know their numbers’- ie your height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
You should also have regular blood pressure tests if there is a family tendency for hypertension. This way, treatment can be started before any complications arise.
Change your lifestyle by losing weight, exercising regularly, cutting down on alcohol, eating a healthy diet, avoiding stress and stopping smoking.
These changes will lower blood pressure - to reduce your risk of developing the condition in the first place or to treat hypertension.
If your blood pressure requires medical treatment, you will probably have to take medicine on a regular basis. which is beyond the scope of this guide to high blood pressure.
What can your doctor do?
He/She may offer medication for the reduction of blood pressure and arrange regular monitoring. Sometimes blood pressure control is not straightforward. Many people require more than one drug on a regular basis to get their blood pressure under good control. Your GP may wish to seek the advice of an expert in hypertension if your blood pressure seems particularly difficult to control.
Which medicines are used to treat hypertension?
- ACE inhibitors stop the production of a hormone called angiotensin II that makes the blood vessels narrow. As a result, the vessels expand, improving blood flow. Tension in the circulation is also lowered by the kidneys filtering more fluid from the blood vessels into urine. This also helps reduce blood pressure. If your blood pressure is not easily controlled on simple medication, your doctor will probably use a medicine of this type.
- Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors. But instead of stopping the production of angiotensin II, they block its action. This allows the blood vessels to expand, improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure.
- Beta-blockers block the effect of the hormone adrenaline and the sympathetic nervous system on the body. This relaxes the heart so that it beats more slowly, lowering the blood pressure.
- Alpha-blockers cause the blood vessels to relax and widen. Combining them with beta-blockers has a greater effect on the resistance in the circulation.
- Calcium-channel blockers reduce muscle tension in the arteries, expanding them and creating more room for the blood flow. In addition, they slightly relax the heart muscle so it beats more slowly, reducing blood pressure.
- Diuretics help the body get rid of excess salt and fluids via the kidneys. In certain cases, they relax blood vessels, reducing the strain on your circulation.
In the long term
By treating hypertension well, complications can be avoided and average life expectancy will remain almost normal.
Without treatment, life expectancy may well be reduced due to the risk of developing complications such as heart failure or stroke
Important Disclaimer
The Above Is Only A Guide.
You Must Consult A Health Professional In All Cases If You Suspect You Are Suffering From Or Suspect You May Be Suffering From Hypertension .
