Hypertension

Overview

Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. When you have hypertension, pressure against the blood vessel wall is consistently too high. Your blood pressure has two readings. The top number is systolic blood pressure which measures the pressure on blood vessel when heart contracts. bottom is diastolic blood pressure. Measures the pressure when your heart is relaxing.

Normal range: 130/80 mmHg.
Stage I: systolic 130-139/ diastolic 80-89 mmHg.
Stage II: 140/90 mmHg or higher.
Hypertensive Case: 180/120 mmHg or higher.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high. This damages your arteries over time and can lead to serious complications like heart attackand stroke. “Hypertension” is another word for this common condition.

What is considered high blood pressure?

Definitions of high blood pressure vary slightly depending on where you live. In the U.S., healthcare providers define high blood pressure (hypertension) as:

A top number (systolic blood pressure) of at least 130 mmHg, and/or
A bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) of at least 80 mmHg.

What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?

Usually, high blood pressure causes no signs or symptoms. That’s why healthcare providers call it a “silent killer.” You could have high blood pressure for years and not know it. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that 46% of adults with hypertension don’t know they have it.

When your blood pressure is 180/120 mmHg or higher, you may experience symptoms like headaches, heart palpitations or nosebleeds. Blood pressure this high is a hypertensive crisis that requires immediate medical care.

What causes hypertension?

Primary hypertension doesn’t have a single, clear cause. Usually, many factors come together to cause it. Common causes include:

Unhealthy eating patterns (including a diet high in sodium).
Lack of physical activity.
High consumption of beverages

Secondary hypertension has at least one distinct cause that healthcare providers can identify. Common causes of secondary hypertension include:

Certain medications, including immunosuppressants, NSAIDs and oral contraceptives (the pill).
Kidney disease.
Obstructive sleep apnea.
Primary aldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome).
Recreational drug use (including amphetamines and cocaine).
Renal vascular diseases, which are conditions that affect blood flow in your kidneys’ arteries and veins. Renal artery stenosis is a common example.
Tobacco use (including smoking, vaping and using smokeless tobacco).

What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?

Risk factors that make you more likely to have high blood pressure include:

Having biological family members with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Being over age 55.
Being Black.
Having certain medical conditions, including chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea or thyroid disease.
Having overweight or obesity.
Not getting enough exercise.
Eating foods high in sodium.
Smoking or using tobacco products.
Drinking too much.

Lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure

You may be wondering if you can lower your blood pressure naturally. Yes, in some cases, it’s possible to lower your blood pressure without medication. For example, your provider may recommend starting with lifestyle changes if you have elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension.

Here are some proven ways to lower your blood pressure naturally:

Keep a weight that’s healthy for you. Your healthcare provider can give you a target range.
Eat a healthy diet. An example is the DASH diet. This is a way of eating that’s full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.
Cut down on salt. Ideally, limit your sodium intake to no more than 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day. If this is too difficult at first, you can start by reducing your daily intake by at least 1,000 milligrams.
Get enough potassium. Try to consume 3,500 to 5,000 milligrams per day, ideally through the foods you eat rather than supplements. Some foods high in potassiuminclude bananas, avocados and potatoes (with skin).
Exercise. Ask your healthcare provider for tips to get started. In general, start slow and work your way up to 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. Resistance training (like lifting light weights) is also helpful.
Limit alcohol. If you choose to drink beverages containing alcohol, do so in moderation.

Sometimes, providers recommend lifestyle changes along with medications to lower your blood pressure.