Last modified on November 2023
With inputs from Dr Sreelekha Daruvuri
Last modified on November 2023
With inputs from Dr Sreelekha Daruvuri
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is a medical condition wherein the blood pressure in your arteries is higher than it should normally be.
Generally, when blood flows through the blood vessels, they exert a force on the walls of your arteries. But if this pressure gets abnormally high, it becomes harder for your heart to pump blood. This condition, if left untreated, may eventually cause health complications such as heart or kidney disease.
| BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY | SYSTOLIC Readings (mm Hg) | DIASTOLIC Readings (mm Hg) |
| NORMAL | LESS THAN 120 | LESS THAN 80 |
| ELEVATED | 120 – 129 | LESS THAN 80 |
| HIGH BP STAGE 1 | 130 – 139 | 80 – 89 |
| HIGH BP STAGE 2 | 140 OR HIGHER | 90 OR HIGHER |
| HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS (consult your doctor immediately) | HIGHER THAN 180 | HIGHER THAN 120 |
BP is measured using a medical instrument called a sphygmomanometer that can be manual or a digital BP monitor device. These instruments measure your blood pressure and show two readings. They are:
In a healthy person, the blood pressure is less than or equal to 120/80 mmHg. 120 is the systolic reading, and 80 is the diastolic reading.
A person with high blood pressure may or may not experience symptoms. Therefore, hypertension is also known as the “silent killer.” Therefore the only sure way to know if you have hypertension is by measuring your BP. But those that do present symptoms may experience one or more of the following symptoms.
But do you know that you can now use your phone to easily monitor your blood pressure?
All you have to do is place your index finger on the phone’s camera, and you are good to go.
The MFine BP Monitor uses Machine Learning algorithms to measure BP with close to 90 percent accuracy, and in 30 seconds, you can see your test results.
If you have a high blood pressure reading over 180/120 mmHg, you need to seek medical help immediately. These are some symptoms you need to keep in mind,
Causes of hypertension may be
Hypertension has many risk factors. Following people are at a higher risk for developing hypertension.
Elderly people:
The probability of developing hypertension increases with age.
Men:
Men are more likely than women to develop hypertension — unlike men, women are less likely to develop high blood pressure before age 65.
People with unhealthy lifestyle habits:
Here is a list of the top 7 poor lifestyle choices that may lead to hypertension. They are
People with unhealthy diet and eating habits:
Too much sodium or too little potassium can cause your body to retain fluid leading to high blood pressure. (potassium levels help balance out sodium levels).
Obese people:
Obesity is one of the risk factors for hypertension. This is due to multiple factors like increased stress system activity, insulin resistance, dysfunction of blood vessel lining
Progeny of people with hypertension:
Hypertension tends to run in the family from one generation to another.
People with certain health conditions:
Certain chronic health conditions such as diabetes, and kidney disease can lead to hypertension.
Read more on 5 warning signs that call for a health check-up.
1) Heart attacks & strokes:
How is hypertension related to heart attacks?
Due to the constant increase in pressure, minor damage happens to the blood vessel walls, and the LDL Cholesterol forms plaques eventually. These plaques can block blood flow and cause heart attacks (or atherosclerosis) and strokes..
2) Kidney disease:
Due to hypertension, blood vessels and nephrons (structural and functional units of kidneys that filter out urine) in your kidneys can be damaged, causing your kidneys to shrink in size. As a result, your kidneys may not function normally.
3) Hypertensive retinopathy:
High blood pressure can damage your eyes’ blood vessels, causing vision loss.
4) Vascular dementia:
It is a condition wherein high blood pressure can limit blood flow to the brain including memory areas, causing dementia. Sometimes even strokes can cause vascular dementia if the area affected is involved in memory function. People with high BP have also shown to have trouble with memory and understanding concepts.
5) Aneurysm:
It’s a medical condition wherein your blood vessels can weaken and swell up like a balloon. The bulge may look like a berry hanging on the stem, and when they rupture, it can be fatal and life-threatening. An aneurysm can be of different types:
6) Cor pulmonale:
It’s also called pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the right side of your heart to the lungs.
Cor pulmonale causes the right side of your heart to malfunction. One way to prevent this condition is by controlling your blood pressure.
7) Labile hypertension:
It’s a medical condition wherein the patient’s blood pressure fluctuates between normal and high. Labile hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and heart failure.
8) Stroke: High Blood pressure can also increase the risk of stroke and interruption in the blood flow.
The only way to diagnose hypertension is by measuring your blood pressure using a manual sphygmomanometer or a digital BP monitor.
Additionally, your doctor may also perform blood tests and scans to detect the extent of complications of high blood pressure (such as kidney damage).
Blood Tests:
A blood test may also be performed if you have secondary hypertension, i.e., hypertension due to an underlying medical condition that is treatable or to check for complications. It includes checking for abnormalities in your
Urine Tests:
The doctor may also analyze your urine sample to determine if kidney disease, diabetes, or drugs/medications are causing high blood pressure.
Treatment for high blood pressure includes a combination of diet, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet:
A healthy & wholesome diet for hypertension includes (in case you don’t have any other health complications such as kidney disease or diabetes)
Additionally, you may have to reduce your salt intake (to less than 3g/day), avoid smoking, chewing tobacco, and reduce alcohol consumption.
Also, please note that if you have hypertension-related health complications such as kidney disease, or other cardiovascular ailments, you may have to optimize further your intake of water, proteins, and other vital macronutrients. Therefore, it’s advisable to speak with a good nutritionist who would be able to tailor and customize a diet plan that works best for you.
Consult a Dietitian: Experts For Food Management & Nutrition Now!
Controlling hypertension with medications:
Several medications are used to treat hypertension. Your doctor would prescribe one or more of the following medications:
Please consult your doctor before taking any of the above medications. Self-medication is not advisable.
Making Lifestyle changes:
Here are 7 ways to manage your blood pressure without medications.
Did you know?
Anxiety does not cause hypertension but can temporarily increase the blood pressure. But stress associated with long term anxiety can be a risk factor for hypertension.
Hypertension is a chronic condition. As of date, there’s no permanent cure. However, it can be effectively managed through diet, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Hypertension is a silent killer, meaning in many cases, people aren’t even aware they have high BP. Therefore, the only sure way to know if you have hypertension is by getting checked by a doctor.
Hypertension is measured using an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. If your blood pressure is above 120/80 mm Hg, it means you have hypertension.
Caffeine from coffee can temporarily increase your blood pressure. It’s unclear why that happens, but it’s advisable to limit your caffeine consumption if you have hypertension.
Aspirin does not lower blood pressure on its own. However, it can thin out the blood and prevent stroke-related blood clots and help manage blood pressure complications.
Drinking water is an effective lifestyle modification that one can adopt to manage your blood pressure. But water on its own does not lower BP.
Your doctor may prescribe a blood test to assess the damage caused to your vital organs, such as kidneys, due to very high blood pressure.
Medication, diet, and lifestyle modifications can significantly improve your quality of life and also life expectancy. But if you don’t seek medical help, you are at a higher risk for cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
Sleeping on the left side is the best position to sleep if you have high blood pressure but as such is not a treatment option.
Usually, your blood pressure peaks in the morning and evening and drops at night. Blood pressure is lowest when you are sleeping.
Mild symptoms include headaches, fatigue and shortness of breath. Severe symptoms that require immediate medical help include shortness of breath, nosebleeds, chest pain, vision problems, palpitations, and blood in the urine.
There’s no identifiable direct reason for high blood pressure in most adults.Only in a few adults cause can be identified. Hypertension is also known as the “silent killer.”
There’s no quick fix for high blood pressure. The only sure way to manage hypertension is through diet, medication, and lifestyle modifications.
Your doctor can effectively manage pregnancy-induced hypertension. Most women with gestational hypertension go on to have healthy pregnancies and delivery.
Pregnancy-induced hypertension includes
Studies suggest that hypertension before pregnancy may increase your chance of miscarriage.
Pulmonary hypertension is a medical condition that causes the right side of your heart to malfunction.
Kidney damage is irreversible. But there is help, and it can be effectively managed through medications.
Less severe forms of hypertension may take several years. But very high blood pressure can damage your kidneys in a very short span of time.
Brown, red or purple urine is an indication that your kidneys are failing, but in some patients there can be no change in the color of urine even though kidneys are affected.
Kidneys play a significant role in controlling your blood pressure. As a result, failing kidneys can cause high blood pressure.
Infection can cause scarring and damage to your kidneys. And since kidneys play an important role in controlling your blood pressure, infected kidneys can cause high blood pressure.
Generally, drinking adequate water is good for your kidneys and overall health. But in case your kidneys are damaged as a result of hypertension, your doctor may advise you to drink a limited quantity of water.
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