What is Hypertension :: Hyper Tension Symptoms, Warning Signs & Treatment

We know Hypertension in simple words as high blood pressure. It is a condition when heart vessel has to increase the pressure to pump the blood to different parts of body.

Not necessarily individual show the symptoms of hypertension. Most of them do not feel sick and even though they suffer from hypertension. Therefore it is termed as ‘silent killer’ too.

Hypertension can be classified as primary (essential) or secondary conditions.
Primary hypertension means no specific medical cause can be found for patient’s condition. It may be due to multiple risk factors like heredity, race, overweight, addictions to tobacco and alcohol, stress, high fat or high-sodium diet in at risk individuals.
Secondary type of high blood pressure is related to other medical causes like, kidney diseases or tumors.

Patients suffering from persistent hypertension are at a great risk of strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and chronic kidney problems, if untreated timely and properly.

Range of normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is termed as “pre-hypertension”, and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered as high.

The higher or top number (systolic blood pressure), shows pressure in arteries as heart contracts and pumps blood forward into arteries. The lower or bottom number (diastolic pressure) corresponds pressure in arteries as heart relaxes after contraction. An increase in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage).

Treatment for hypertension:
Treatment of primary high blood pressure, especially moderate or severe high blood pressure, decreases the risk of heart and kidney disease, and it reduces the risk of death.

While treating hypertension it is important to note severity of the condition. Depending upon your life style, sugar level and heart problem your doctor may first advice you life style changes such as controlling weight, taking balance diet, doing regular exercises, cutting down salt intake, controlling alcohol intake etc.

Besides these, certain medicines are very effective to treat high blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe you medications to achieve desired blood pressure level.
• Diuretics
• Angiotensin – Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
• Angiotensin-2 Receptor Antagonist
• Beta Blockers
• Calcium Channel Blocker
• Alpha blockers

Treatment of secondary high blood pressure varies depending on the cause. If you are suffering from high blood pressure caused by kidney disease treatment for hypertension will also include treatment for kidney problem. If you have secondary high blood pressure, you may have to take blood pressure medicine for long time, even if the underlying condition is treated. Older adults, African Americans, Children and Pregnant women would require special consideration while treating hypertension.