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Having a high blood pressure or hypertension? High blood pressure happens when your blood is flowing with a high speed and this force is pushing it against the artery walls. This causes long-term damage to your arteries, which can lead to serious consequences such as heart attack and stroke.

Hypertension is a frequent disorder that damages the arteries. Here’s how you differentiate hypertension based on the blood pressure levels:

• Normal blood pressure: Blood pressure that is below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal.
• Elevated blood pressure: In this scenario, the bottom reading drops to 80 mm Hg, while the upper number, or peak value, ranges from 120 to 129 mm Hg.
• Stage 1 hypertension: During this phase, the bottom reading ranges from 80 to 89 mm Hg, while the peak reading ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg.
• Stage 2 hypertension: 90 mm Hg or above is the lowest reading, while 140 mm Hg or higher is the highest.

A hypertensive emergency or crisis is defined as a blood pressure level of greater than 180/120 mm Hg. See a doctor right away if you have these blood pressure results.

Symptoms of Hypertension

Even when blood pressure readings are extremely high, some people don’t even feel a single symptom while others may exhibit a dozen of them. Symptoms associated with hypertension include, but are not limited to:

• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds
• Chest pain
• Dizziness.
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Anxiety

Types of Hypertension

1. Primary hypertension: As the name suggests, this is the primary or most common type of high blood pressure that is usually caused by aging and lifestyle changes.

2. Secondary hypertension: This sort of elevated blood pressure can be caused by a variety of medical disorders or medications.

3. White coat hypertension: In this type of hypertension, your blood pressure is normal at home but high at the doctor’s clinic.

4. Masked hypertension: It occurs when your blood pressure is normal in a healthcare setting but high at home.

5. Sustained hypertension: Your blood pressure is high at both home and the doctor’s clinic.

6. Nocturnal hypertension: Your blood pressure rises while you sleep.

What causes hypertension in adults?

There are different causes of hypertension, depending on the type you are suffering from. Primary hypertension is caused by the following factors:

• Unhealthy eating patterns
• Lack of physical activity
• High consumption of beverages containing alcohol

Secondary hypertension is caused due to the below factors:

• Immunosuppressants, NSAIDs, and oral contraceptives
• Kidney condition
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Primary aldosteronism or Conn’s syndrome
• Renal vascular diseases or renal artery stenosis
• Tobacco use, smoking, and vaping

Treatment Options For Hypertension

When it comes to treating a hypertension, the treatment options include lifestyle changes and prescribed medications.

Lifestyle changes for treating hypertension include:

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a nutritious and low-fat diet.
• Consume less than 1,500mg salt per day.
• Get at least3,500- 5,000 mg of potassium.
• Do aerobic exercise and resistance training.
• Limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Medications for treating hypertension include:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Calcium channel blockers
• Diuretics (water or fluid pills)
• Other prescribed medicines

High blood pressure is a critical condition that can creep up on you over time and can even cause a life-threatening situation. If you are living at a remote location or don’t have an easy access to care, feel free to book a consultation with our qualified physicians at MD Chronic. We are an online physician platform that can help patients get their health conditions diagnosed and treated right from the comfort of the home. Feel free to contact us for a health advice.