High Blood Pressure (The Silent Killer)

High blood pressure is often thought of as a silent killer because it can pave the way for heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure without any warning signs. People walk around and live their lives and don't realise they are harbouring something that is liable to either kill or physically disable them at any minute.

It is a worrying statement that death from cardiovascular disease is increasing every year in developed countries and growing numbers of men and women under the age of 40 are affected by high blood pressure. This now also affects children,

Many studies have shown that weight gain is related to a significant rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. One of the reasons why this is so, is that fat requires an adequate supply of blood and each and every pound of extra fat within the body increases the total length of the small blood vessels by around one mile.

Luckily, the loss of extra weight can result in a significant reduction in both high blood pressure in people suffering from hypertension and the likelihood of it developing in overweight people who have a normal blood pressure.

Salt intake is another factor which should be closely monitored. Research into salt intake and hypertension has shown that moderate and severe hypertension seem to get better if the patient is on a salt-restricted diet. The effects of this measure on mild hypertension are inconclusive, however health care professionals still insist it is better to be safe than sorry, and salt should either be reduced or excluded from the diet altogether.

In the interests of safety, therefore, it is advisable to reduce salt intake. This can be achieved in two ways:

a) by using a potassium rich substitute
b) not adding any more salt to food.

Exercise is another factor.

Nowadays so many of us live such sedentary lifestyles, that we rarely get anywhere near the exercise we need. Exercise doesn't have to be strenuous and you don't have to join the gym.

Going for a brisk walk three times a week for thirty minutes improves the metabolism and helps reduce both excess weight and blood pressure.

Measuring Blood Pressure

Measuring blood pressure is a very common medical test that is carried out by doctors, nurses or any other competent person.

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure, If someone has high blood pressure they are referred to by doctors as 'hypertensive'.

A person's blood pressure level can have many health implications and the global medical community is heavily involved in the research and treatment of high and low blood pressure.

To understand exactly what blood pressure is, you have to remember that the heart is a pump whose main aim is to force blood through the many miles of piping of our blood vessels. And if we think about how pumps work (though generating pressure), then it's easy to see there is a lot of work involved.

If you have too much pressure in your arteries, it could put a strain on the piping (blood vessels) as well as putting a strain on the pump (heart) itself. This may result in the blood vessels bursting or the heart failing under the strain. This is a rough analogy to illustrate the effects of high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, high blood pressure is a very common condition and the older you get, the more likely you are to develop it.

Of course, this does depend on certain related factors such as diet, hereditary factors, and your ethnic background, also on whether you are overweight or have diabetes or any other medical condition.

On a more positive note, however, hypertension can be easily diagnosed. Measuring blood pressure is a very simple, quick and painless procedure. Further, once you have been diagnosed, you might not need treatment - because all that may be required to lower your blood pressure is a change of lifestyle (watching what you eat, watching your weight and doing more exercise).

Drugs to treat high blood pressure are often called 'anti-hypertensive's'.

If you do need drugs to remedy high blood pressure, there are a number of very effective drugs available. These are nearly all prescribed by your doctor, and should be carefully monitored for any adverse effects or reactions.

If you do suffer any unpleasant side effects from your anti hypertensive drugs, its important you tell your doctor rather than just putting up with it as he may be able to either reduce your dose, or try you on another medication which is more suited to you.

Malignant Hypertension

Malignant hypertension is a severe emergency which is characterised by a severe rise in the blood pressure which cannot then be lowered. It is diagnosed by the presence of advanced retinopathy in the presence of a diastolic blood pressure of over 120 mm Hg.

Malignant hypertension is more prevalent in African type people and also more common in smokers. It affects about 1% of those people already suffering with high blood pressure. It is also known to occur in younger people (even children), and also in pregnancy.

In malignant hypertension, there is usually a characteristic rush or increase in the blood pressure often for no apparent reason. Because it is very difficult to reduce a malignant blood pressure, it can and will cause the vital organs of the body irreparable harm. This can include the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys and blood vessels. (They are all put under tremendous pressure).
Those suffering from malignant hypertension may also complain of

• Confusional periods,
• Decreased urinary output
• Headaches,
• Vomiting
• Abnormal sensations to the arms, legs and other areas.
• Some visual disturbances.
• Change in their mental state
• Restlessness and anxiety
• Decreased alertness and ability to think and concentrate
• Extreme fatigue
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath and cough

The prognosis of people suffering from malignant hypertension can be bleak, as the damage caused to the body is often life threatening especially to older people suffering from malignant hypertension.

Any treatment given to a person suffering with malignant hypertension, should be given carefully as a sudden decrease in the blood pressure from very high levels can be just as dangerous as a blood pressure kept at a consistently high level. Malignant blood pressure should be decreased (if possible) gradually over a period of at least a week with very carefully prescribed anti hypertensive drugs. Complete bed rest is also often prescribed to ensure complete rest is taken.

If it is treated promptly, malignant hypertension can be controlled without any further complications. However the person suffering with malignant hypertension should be monitored very carefully.

Treatment of High Blood Pressure

At one time the treatment of high blood pressure (Hypertension), followed a very rigid approach. Nowadays doctors are much more relaxed about the way they approach the treatment of hypertension or high blood pressure in their patients, preferring a much more patient centred approach.

It is recognised that those people who have pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular damage, kidney disease or stroke present with their own set of individual problems which all need treating on an individual basis; therefore it’s important that any medical or drug treatment is carefully tailored around them.

The first treatment of choice for those suffering with high blood pressure is usually a lifestyle change. For those who are overweight, smoke, lead very stressful lives or don’t exercise, sometimes this is the only wake up call they need. Once they make the lifestyle modifications required, they will often find their blood pressure will lower itself too a more normal limit.

As long as they keep these lifestyle changes, there shouldn’t really be any reason why they need to worry about their blood pressure later though of course it should be carefully monitored on a regular basis.

Some medications used to treat high blood pressure include

• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers
• Beta-blockers
• Diuretics
• Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
• Alpha-blockers
• Clonidine
• Minoxidil
  

Unfortunately it’s often found that one drug which treats a particular disease, has an adverse effect on another drug treating a different medical problem, so getting the balance right when prescribing medication to those suffering a variety of different illnesses can be difficult.

Clinical trials can prove useful for some people who find the drug regime they have been on is unsuitable. Many doctors will ask specific patients who they are having difficulty treating with conventional drugs, if they will participate in clinical trials for new drugs.

These drugs are not available to the general public (sometimes not for a year or so), and the temptation to try a new treatment can be an irresistible lure, especially to someone who is not responding to the treatment they have been given.

There have been some very satisfactory outcomes for those who have agreed to participate in clinical trials.

Causes Of Hypertension

There is little doubt that there are probably thousands of people walking the streets today who have a dangerously high blood pressure, yet they are completely unaware of it.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure leads to many different medical problems such as

• Stroke
• Coronary Disease
• Kidney disease

Different factors for causing high blood pressure include

• Excess alcohol
• Excess salt
• Excess sodium
• Stress (Up to a point)

The problem with high blood pressure or hypertension to give it it’s proper name is that very often people are unaware they are suffering from it until they start suffering the side effects. This is one of the reasons why it is called the “silent killer”

There is little doubt that salt intake has a direct effect on blood pressure. Both this and the ingestion of dietary potassium have been found to have adverse effects on a person’s health.

Obesity is another major problem. Overweight people are more liable to have a higher blood pressure than their slim counterpart. The heart and other vital organs have to work harder which leads to added strain.

Alcohol also plays a direct part in hypertension. It has been found in several studies, that the higher the alcohol consumption, the higher the blood pressure. However similar studies have also shown that moderate drinkers appear to have a lower blood pressure than non drinkers. This probably bears out the old assumption a little of what you fancy does you good!

The only true way of ascertaining whether you have high blood pressure or not is by having it checked by a competent person. This is a painless procedure, and every adult should have their blood pressure taken at least on an annual basis if not more often.

The contraceptive pill can cause amongst other things, the blood pressure to rise so it is important that all women no matter how young they are have their blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

Though symptoms of hypertension or high blood pressure are not common, some people can complain of headaches, blurred vision light headedness and dizziness.

Exercise and Blood Pressure

Regular aerobic exercise is important to the health and wellbeing of everyone.

However many people make the mistake of assuming huge workouts are the best form of exercise, when in actual fact moderate exercise such as brisk walking or swimming is one of the better forms of exercise.

Before undertaking any form of exercise, especially if you haven’t exercised for long periods of time or you have medical problems, you should always consult your doctor to ensure he is happy to continue with your exercise regime. He might even want to suggest you change some of your lifestyle habits such as your diet or drugs etc.

Exercise is important when discussing raised blood pressure. The blood pressure can rise sharply during physical activity, although some studies show those people who undertake regular exercise are fitter and healthier plus their blood pressure is usually much lower. However this could also be due to the fact they eat a healthier diet, drink in moderation, and either don’t smoke or smoke very little.

More recent studies have shown that vigorous exercise could actually prove to be harmful and should be avoided unless tolerance to the exercise has been built up over a period of time.

Different types of exercise obviously depend on your fitness levels, but cycling, walking, swimming, are good exercises to attempt to start off with. They shouldn’t cause problems with your blood pressure.

It’s important to slowly build your fitness levels up over a period of time. Many people have found themselves in the casualty department of their local hospital because they threw themselves into a fitness regime they were not ready to undertake. For instance if you decide to start walking, build it up nice and slow. Start off three times a week for fifteen minutes at a time and then gradually increase your pace, distance and sessions until you are doing a comfortable thirty minutes per session three times a week.

If you decide to join the gym, ensure you’re sensible. You must have a proper workout planned for you by a qualified fitness coach who will take all your medical history etc into account. If you decide to do it alone, your just asking for your health to be compromised.