Rapid modernization across the world has come with its own set of problems – lifestyle changes leading higher stress lives – resulting in widespread hypertension. About 26.4% of the world adult population in 2020 had hypertension and 29.2% were projected to have this condition by 2025.
Hypertension is one of the most common lifestyle diseases today. Every third person is having suffering from it. Even kids can be victims of Hypertension. About in 90% patients there is no known cause for hypertension and this is very important to be alert. Hypertension itself is a very dangerous condition. It can cause drastic damage to the liver, brains, kidneys and the heart. The damaging of these vital organs is the most important cause of the death.
Hypertension is an important worldwide public health challenge. It is major cause for the morbidity and mortality worldwide. The WHO rates Hypertension also as one of the most important cause of the premature death worldwide.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension or high blood pressure is an asymptomatic medical condition in which systemic arterial blood pressure elevated beyond the normal values. A person’s blood pressure may be different at different times of the day. It is usually higher after exercise, or under stress. Having higher blood pressure for short intervals of time is normal. However, when blood pressure stays high for a longer duration, it can leads to cardiovascular dysfunction and other serious health problems. High blood pressure can strain to the heart and damage arterial blood vessels, and increases the risk of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, cerebral aneurysm and kidney failure, and even lead to death. Cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, metabolic syndrome and diabetes are the major risk factors associated with the increasing cardiovascular diseases.
Classification of Hypertension in mm of Hg (S for Systolic, D for Diastolic)
Normal: S < 130, D < 85
High Normal: S 130 – 139, D 85 - 89
Stage 1 Hypertension (Mild): S 140 – 159, D 90 - 99
Stage 2 Hypertension (Moderate): S 160 – 179, D 100 - 109
Stage 3 Hypertension (severe): S 180 – 209, D 110 - 119
Stage 4 Hypertension (Very severe): S > 210, D > 120
Types of Hypertension Medical science recognizes two types of hypertension –
- Primary hypertension and
- Secondary hypertension
Primary hypertension: It is also called as Essential hypertension or idiopathic hypertension. There has no known cause, however many of the lifestyle factors contribute to this condition. About 90–95% of cases of hypertension are categorized as primary hypertension with no obvious underlying cause. This is found in most of people who have crossed the middle age. It cannot be permanently cured, but it controlled with the proper drugs and measures. The measures include sharp reduction of obesity and reduction of dietary salt. Following factors are important in the etiology of essential hypertension:
- Hereditary factor
- Environmental factor - overcrowding, pollution, competition in job.
- Age and gender
- Habit of Alcohol and smoking
- Increase in lipid profile and serum cholesterol
- Obesity
- Psycho-social factors - anxiety, tension.
- Dietary factor- more salt intake.
Secondary hypertension: When hypertension is caused by another condition or disease process, it is called secondary hypertension. This is also called as malignant hypertension. Incidence of secondary hypertension is comparatively very low. This is very danger and need to remedy urgently. Fewer than 10% of patients have secondary hypertension.
Signs and Symptoms of Hypertension: Most of the patients with hypertension have no specific symptoms except an elevated blood pressure. Symptoms of hypertension are usually variable and at time very vague. The common symptoms of hypertension are as following…
- Headache
- Nausea
- Numbness & burning sensation in hands & feet
- Vertigo
- Vomiting
- Feeling of tiredness, restlessness
- Breathlessness
- Loss of appetite
- Chest pain
- Discomfort
- Bleeding from nose
- Swelling in legs and eyes
- Irritability
- Haziness of vision
While there are many blood pressure lowering drugs available in the marketplace, they do nothing to resolve the underlying problem. E.g. Blockages and clots in the arteries lead to high blood pressure. So, lowering blood pressure does not help; the focus should be on reducing blockages and clots. We must stop considering high blood pressure as a disease, and start considering it as a warning sign that the body sends to resolve an underlying problem. High blood pressure is a symptom and not a disease. The common belief that high blood pressure leads to heart disease or brain stroke in misleading. It is the risk of heart disease or brain stroke because of the underlying problem that leads to high blood pressure.
So, focus on the problem and not the symptom. Lifestyle diseases or conditions can be managed or cured by lifestyle changes.
Start your journey to a better lifestyle as soon as see the first signs of hypertension.
Or better - don’t wait for it!