Some people suffer from high blood pressure for years without feeling any symptoms, and high and uncontrolled blood pressure increases the odds of serious health problems, such as: heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure often develops over many years and eventually appears in almost all people. Fortunately, the disease is very easy to detect, and therefore control is possible with the help of doctors.
High blood pressure is mainly prevalent among adults, but children can also be susceptible to it sometimes.
Some children develop high blood pressure as a result of kidney or heart problems, but a large and increasing number of children are at risk of developing high blood pressure as a result of bad life habits, such as: improper and unhealthy nutrition, and lack of physical activity.
Types of high blood pressure
There are two types of high blood pressure
1. Principal hypertension
In 90% - 95% of cases in adults, the cause cannot be identified. This type tends to develop gradually over several years.
2. Secondary hypertension
In the remaining 5% - 10%, this type is generated as a result of another disease, and it usually appears suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than that caused by the primary.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Symptoms of high blood pressure do not appear in most people who suffer from it, as well as in cases where blood pressure records high values to the point of being dangerous.
In some patients, the following symptoms appear in the first stages of the disease
Mild headaches.
Dizziness.
Bleeding from the nose more than usual.
But these signs and symptoms usually appear when the disease has reached a more advanced stage to the point of posing a threat to life.
What is blood pressure?
Causes and risk factors for high blood pressure
The causes and risk factors for high blood pressure can be explained as follows
1. Causes of high blood pressure
Several diseases and medications are among the most important causes of secondary hypertension, including:
Kidney disease.
Tumors of the adrenal gland.
Certain congenital heart defects.
Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold medications, and congestion medications.
Over-the-counter pain relievers and a number of prescription medications.
Drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine.
2. Uncontrollable risk factors
There are many factors that increase the risk of developing high blood pressure, some of which cannot be controlled, including:
1. Age
The risk of developing the disease increases with age. At the beginning of middle age, the disease is more common among men, while women tend to develop the disease in the postmenopausal period.
2. Family history
High blood pressure tends to be passed on genetically.
3. Uncontrollable risk factors
Other controllable risk factors are
1. Being overweight or obese
The higher the human weight, the more blood he needs in order to be able to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the various tissues of the body, and the greater the amount of blood flowing in the blood vessels, the greater the pressure on the walls of the arteries.
2. Lack of physical activity
The pace of heart work in people who do not engage in physical activity is higher than that of those who do, and the faster the heart works, the more effort the heart needs to make at each contraction, which increases pressure on the arteries. In addition, the lack of physical activity increases the risk of obesity.
3. Smoking
Smoking tobacco leads to an immediate and temporary increase in blood pressure. In addition, the chemicals in tobacco may damage the walls of the arteries, and as a result, the arteries may become narrower, which leads to high blood pressure.
4. Feeding too much salt
Having too much table salt in the diet may lead to fluid retention in the body, which causes high blood pressure.
5. Low potassium feed
Potassium helps balance the level of sodium in cells. When not enough potassium is consumed or stored, this can lead to too much sodium building up in the blood.
6. Low Vitamin D Nutrition
It is not clear whether a diet deficient in vitamin D can cause high blood pressure. Researchers believe that vitamin D can affect an enzyme produced by the kidneys that affects blood pressure.
7. Drinking alcohol
Alcohol consumption may cause the release of hormones that lead to high blood pressure and an increased heart rate.
8. Stress
High levels of stress lead to a temporary rise in blood pressure, but attempts to relax by eating a lot, smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol can complicate blood pressure problems.
9. Chronic diseases
Certain chronic diseases, including high cholesterol, diabetes, insomnia, and kidney disease, may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.
10. Pregnancy
Sometimes pregnancy is a factor in high blood pressure.
Complications of high blood pressure
Excess blood pressure on the walls of the arteries may cause damage to blood vessels and other organs in the body. The higher the blood pressure, the greater the damage.
Untreated high blood pressure may lead to the following
Damage to blood vessels.
Local aneurysm of the walls of blood vessels.
Cardiac arrest.
Blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain.
Weakness and narrowing of the blood vessels in the kidneys.
Thickening, narrowing, or violation of the blood vessels in the eyes.
Memory or comprehension problems.
Diagnosis of high blood pressure
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped by the heart and the level of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure.
Blood pressure measurement
To discover and treat high pressure, blood pressure is measured by a special device consisting of an inflatable bracelet that is wrapped around the arm to limit blood flow. The measurement results are in millimeters of mercury, and these results include two numerical values:
The first or higher number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts, and is called the systolic pressure.
The second or lower number measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats, and is called the diastolic pressure.
blood pressure values
Measurement values fall into four general groups
Normal level: Blood pressure is considered normal when it is less than 120/80 mm Hg, but some doctors say that blood pressure at a level of 115/75 is the best.
Pre-hypertension level: when the systolic pressure value is between 120-139 mm Hg, or when the diastolic pressure value is between 80-89.
The first stage of high blood pressure: when the systolic pressure value is between 140-159 mm Hg, or when the diastolic pressure value is between 90-99.
The second stage of hypertension: when the systolic pressure value is 160 mm Hg and more, or when the diastolic pressure value is 100 mm Hg and more.
The highest and lowest values in measuring blood pressure are important, but after the age of 50, the systolic blood pressure becomes the most important.
Systolic hypertension is a condition in which the diastolic pressure is normal while the systolic pressure is high. This condition is the most common type of high blood pressure among people over the age of 50.
Treating high blood pressure
A change in lifestyle may greatly help in balancing blood pressure, but a change in lifestyle alone is sometimes not enough. In addition to practicing physical activity and changing eating habits, the doctor may also prescribe some medications to lower blood pressure.
Medicines to treat blood pressure
The high blood pressure treatment recommended by the doctor is related to the patient''s blood pressure level and other medical problems that he suffers from, and among the recommended medications:
Diuretics from the thiazide group.
Beta blockers.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers.
Calcium channel blockers.
Renin inhibitors.
In cases where high pressure cannot be controlled and treated with the help of the above-mentioned medicines, the doctor may recommend taking the following medicines:
Alpha blockers.
Alpha - Beta blockers.
Vasodilators.
After success in reaching the required blood pressure level, the doctor may recommend taking aspirin on a daily basis to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In order to reduce the daily drug dose, the doctor may combine several types of drugs with a low dose instead of one type with a very high dose. Taking two or more types of drugs at the same time often is more beneficial than taking one type of drug, as the ability to choose the drug The most effective or most beneficial combination of drugs results from trial and error.
Prevention of high blood pressure
Prevention methods include the following
Eat healthy.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Do regular exercise.
Not drinking alcohol.
Non-smoking.
Alternative therapies
There are several food additives, i.e. complementary foods, that may help lower high blood pressure, including:
Alpha Linolenic Acid.
Psyllium seed (Blond psyllium).
calcium.
cocoa.
Cod liver oil.
Omega 3 fatty acids.
the Garlic.
The best way to incorporate these substances into the diet is by eating foods rich in these substances, but they can also be consumed by taking them in tablets or capsules.
It is recommended to consult a doctor before taking such supplements while receiving blood pressure treatment, as there are foods that affect the effectiveness of medications and lead to harmful side effects.
It is also possible to practice relaxation techniques, such as: yoga, or deep breathing to achieve psychological calm and reduce stress. These relaxation techniques may temporarily lower high blood pressure.
