High Blood Pressure or Hypertension || Dr. Abida Sultana
What is Blood
Pressure?
Blood pressure is the
lateral pressure exerted by blood while flowing through blood vessel.
This blood pressure is
recorded through two values –
Systolic and
diastolic. The upper limit is called systolic pressure, and the lower limit is
called diastolic pressure.
During each heart beat
contraction and expansion of the heart occur,there is once systolic pressure
and once diastolic pressure.
An adult healthy
normal human has a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg.
If someone's b
lood
pressure reading is 140/90 or higher, then they should know that they have high
blood pressure.
On the other hand, if
the blood pressure is 90/60 or around, then it is considered as low blood
pressure.
Why is High Blood Pressure or Hypertension?
In 90% of patients, no
specific cause of hypertension is known. This is called primary hypertension.
Generally, high blood pressure is more common in older people. Certain factors
increase the risk of high blood pressure. For example:
Hereditary causes:
High blood pressure has a hereditary pattern. If the parents have high blood
pressure, there is a risk of the child also having high blood pressure.
Consumption of tobacco
products and smoking: In response to various toxic substances in the body of
smokers, high blood pressure, various diseases of arteries and veins and heart
disease can occur.
Excess salt intake in
food: Salt in food contains sodium. It increases the water content of the
blood. It increases blood volume and blood pressure.
Overweight and lazy
lifestyle: Not getting enough exercise and physical activity can lead to weight
gain. This makes the heart work harder and causes high blood pressure in
overweight people.
Unhealthy eating
habits: Eating too much fatty foods like meat, butter and deep fried foods will
lead to weight gain. Eating egg yolk and liver, brain increases blood
cholesterol. When the blood has excess cholesterol, the walls of blood vessels
become thick and hard. It can increase blood pressure.
Excessive alcohol
consumption: People who regularly drink excessive amounts of alcohol are more
likely to have high blood pressure. Alcohol contains extra calories. It causes
weight gain and blood pressure.
Diabetes:
Atherosclerosis is more common in diabetic patients. It causes high blood
pressure in the elderly as well as in diabetic patients. Apart from this, they
may have blindness and various kidney diseases.
Excessive stress:
Excessive anger, excitement, fear and stress can also cause blood pressure to
rise temporarily. If this stress continues and the patient is unable to cope
with the increasing stress, hypertension can become permanent.
Certain diseases can
cause high blood pressure. If a specific cause is found, it is called secondary
hypertension. Some of these reasons are:
Kidney disease.
Tumors of the adrenal
gland and pituitary gland.
Hereditary diseases of
the arteries.
If you have eclampsia
and preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Long-term use of birth
control pills. Taking steroids and taking certain pain relievers.
Symptoms of high blood
pressure:
One of the most
dangerous things about high blood pressure is that the sufferer may not even
know they have it. In fact, about one-third of people with high blood pressure
don't know it. Because high blood pressure has no symptoms unless it is very
severe. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is through regular
checkups. You can monitor blood pressure at home. This is especially important
if you have a close relative with high blood pressure.
Symptoms of severe
hypertension:
• Severe headache
• Epistaxis or
Bleeding through nose.
• Fatigue or confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blood in the urine
• Throbbing in chest,
neck or ear.
Many people think that
other symptoms may be related to high blood pressure, but they may not be. For
example:
• Dizziness
• Nervousness
• Sweating
• Sleep problems
• Mouth flushing
• Bloodstains in the
eyes
What should do if
Hypertension occur:
Many people suffer
from the problem of high blood pressure or hypertension. It is possible to stay
away from it by taking proper diet. In order to reduce high blood pressure, one
should plan such meals, which will have enough calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Because, these food ingredients are helpful in reducing high blood pressure.
Low-fat milk or fat-free milk or milk-based foods such as yogurt provide
adequate calcium.Fresh fruits such as apples, bananas and vegetables are good
sources of potassium. Tomatoes also have a lot of potassium. More magnesium is
found in grains or whole grains, pulses, nuts, beans, pulses, chickpeas, red
rice, red flour, potatoes, green vegetables, tomatoes, watermelon, milk and
yogurt.
2 to 3 servings of
low-fat milk or fat-free milk or milk products per day. A serving of milk or
milk products is half a pound or a glass of milk or a cup of yogurt.
Fruit 4 to 5 servings
per day. A serving of fruit consists of half a cup of sliced fruit or a
medium-sized apple or half a banana or half a cup of fruit juice. Whole fruit
is better than fruit juice.
4 to 5 servings of
vegetables are needed per day. A serving of vegetables is one cup of raw
vegetables or half a cup of cooked vegetables.
7 to 8 servings of
whole grains are needed per day. Examples of one serving of whole grains are
one slice of bread or half a cup of rice or one cup of whole grains.
4 to 5 servings of
seed like foods are needed per week. Examples of one serving of a seed-like
food are one-third of a cup of almonds or one-half cup of cooked beans or peas.
Remedies and
Prevention: A person with high blood pressure should make some changes in their
lifestyle. If you are overweight, you should reduce it, if you have the habit
of eating excess salt with food, that is, you should eliminate it. Regular
physical activity should be done, vigorous walking should be done for at least
30 minutes a day and this should be done at least five days a week. Smoking
should not be allowed.
Fruits rich in vitamin
C such as grapefruit, oranges and lemons can act as potent antihypertensive
agents. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that lower
high blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and help keep your heart
healthy.
A lot of green
vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, gourds,
beans, eggplants, pumpkins should be kept in the diet. High blood pressure can
be controlled by increasing the amount of potassium-rich foods in the diet.
Some vegetables, including canned water, bananas, tomatoes, contain potassium.
If a person with high
blood pressure does not control their blood pressure despite lifestyle changes,
they must take medication and that must be done as per the advice of a
specialist doctor.
If a person with high
blood pressure has their blood pressure under control, they will have their
blood pressure measured every six months. And if the blood pressure is not
under control, then blood pressure should be measured every one to one and a
half months or according to the doctor's advice.
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