Hypertension, Its causes and prevention
Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
What is blood pressure?
When the heart pumps blood through the arteries, then the pressure exerted on their walls is known as blood pressure.
High blood pressure or hypertension is the condition in which the pressure of blood on the walls of arteries is elevated.
Blood pressure of a person may go up when the person gets exited and the blood pressure of the same person comes down when he/she takes rest. Due to anxiety, fear, stress blood pressure is elevated.
When the arteries become narrower and harder due to deposit of cholesterol and other substances then the heart has to pump harder i.e. has to exert much pressure for sending blood through the arteries, in that case also blood pressure is elevated.
There are also many other factors which affect blood pressure.
Normal blood pressure should be less than 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Here the top number 120 mmHg indicates systolic pressure and the bottom number 80 mmHg indicates diastolic pressure.
During measurement of blood pressure at any instant the systolic blood pressure is the peak pressure of blood on the arteries and the diastolic blood pressure is the minimum pressure of blood exerted on the arteries.
Categories and range of blood pressure
Systolic Pressure Diastolic Pressure
Normal blood pressure: May vary from 90 to 119 mmHg 60 to 79 mmHg
High blood pressure:
Stage I May vary from 140 to 159 mmHg 90 to 99 mmHg
Stage II >= 160 mm Hg 100 mmHg or higher
Hypertension or high blood pressure can have devastating effects on our heart, brain, kidneys and eye sight. Symptoms of high blood pressure are also not always clear.
If you have any one of the following symptoms like:-
i) Irregular heart beat
ii) Shortness of breath
iii) Pain in chest
iv) Blurred vision
v) Nose bleeding
vi) Confusion etc. then you may have high blood pressure and you need to consult a doctor immediately.
Causes of high blood pressure
Factors affecting blood pressure: -
i) Diabetes
ii) Tobacco Smoking
iii) Too much alcohol consumption
iv) Kidney disease
v) Obesity
vi) High fat diets
vii) Atherosclerosis
viii) Coarctation of Aorta
ix) Age
Persons who are in hypertension stage I category can reduce their blood pressure by changing sedentary life style, diets and giving up certain bad habits.
Due to physical activities, blood circulation in every parts of our body especially in brain improves which helps to reduce stress, depression, etc.
A person who is overweight can do light physical exercise. Walking or jogging is very good for weight reduction.
Smoking can damage artery walls. Too much alcohol consumption is also very harmful. Cholesterol causes blockage in artery and is responsible for increasing blood pressure so food containing less cholesterol should be taken. Fried foods and foods rich in saturated fat should be avoided.
Prevention
i) Reduce Sodium intake. Take less salt in food.
ii) Take low fat diet and fat free dairy foods.
iii) Avoid food containing saturated fat.
iv) Take food rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. Eat vegetables and fruits.
v) Discontinue tobacco smoking
vi) Reduce alcohol consumption
vii) Take less sugar in your diet
viii) Reduce your weight if you are over weight.
Author: S.N.Bhattacharya