By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
When it comes to the human body, there are certain diseases that come as announcers of danger, as they attack with very visible and obvious symptoms. However, there are some others that so quietly attack the body but suddenly manifest with fatalities. These silent, subtle diseases are most often the very dangerous ones and such is the case of high blood pressure (high BP), which is also referred to as hypertension.
Normally, for the human body, blood pressure is the force of blood that pushes against the walls of the arteries. These arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body and the blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day. But if it remains consistently too high and above normal for too long, as it is the case with high blood pressure, it can lead to serious complications, such as increased risk for heart, brain, and kidney, and it can even lead to death.
Blood pressure is usually determined by two things, which involves the amount of blood the heart pumps and how hard it is for the blood to move through the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure. High blood pressure can be described as a subtle killer disease and a common condition that affects the body’s arteries. It is characterized as a subtle killer because most of the time, it does not cause or reveal any obvious or noticeable symptoms that will indicate that something is wrong.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that about 1.28 billion adults between the ages of 30-79 years all over the world have hypertension, with about two-third of them living in low-and middle-income countries. Also, about 46 per cent of adults who have high blood pressure are unaware that they have the disease and only 21 per cent of those living with hypertension have it under control.
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have divided the human blood pressure into four general categories. This is also referred to as blood pressure measurement. It takes into account how much is passing through the blood vessels and the amount of resistance the blood meets while the heart is pumping. Ideal blood pressure is categorized as normal, then there is the elevated blood pressure, as well as stage one and two hypertension and the hypertensive crisis.
Blood pressure readings are reported as two numbers, represented as one number placed over the other. The upper number, which is known as the systolic pressure, is the force against the walls when the heart is actively beating, while the lower number, known as the diastolic pressure is the force against the walls when the heart rests between beats. Each of the number is reported in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
In healthy adults, a normal blood pressure reading should be 120/80 or lower. When the readings are above these numbers, there is a case of hypertension, which causes the heart to work harder in order to pump the same amount of blood. This increased force can damage the blood vessels, as well as kidneys, eyes, and even the brain.
For the normal blood pressure, the blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. For the elevated blood pressure, the top number ranges from 120 to 129 mm Hg and the bottom number is below, nothing above, 80 mm Hg. For stage 1 hypertension, the top number ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg and the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg. In stage 2 hypertension, the top number is 140 mm Hg or higher and the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher. Then blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg is considered as a hypertensive emergency or crisis, emergency medical help is to be sought for anyone with these blood pressure numbers.
Many people with high blood pressure do not know that they have the disease and oftentimes, the signs and symptoms are misunderstood. High blood pressure develops slowly over time and can be related to many causes. Unfortunately, the disease, according to medical findings, cannot be cured. But it can however be managed effectively through lifestyle changes and, when needed, medications.
Despite its silent nature, which reveals no symptoms, there are some subtle signs that people should be aware of that could indicate the presence of a blood pressure problem. Most people who have high blood pressure as earlier mentioned, show no symptoms even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. One can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. However, a few people with the disease may have symptoms, such as headaches, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds. These symptoms are not quite specific. They usually do not occur until high blood pressure has reached a very severe or life-threatening stage.
There are two main types of high blood pressure: The primary hypertension, which is also called essential hypertension, and the secondary hypertension. For the primary high blood pressure, plaque buildup in the arteries, called atherosclerosis, increases the risk of high blood pressure; while the secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition. It tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than the primary hypertension.
Conditions and medicines that can lead to secondary hypertension include adrenal gland tumors, blood vessel problems present at birth, also called congenital heart defects, cough and cold medicines, some pain relievers, birth control pills, and other prescription drugs, illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems and, sometimes, even just getting a health checkup can cause the blood pressure to increase. This is referred to as white-coat hypertension.
There are also certain risk factors for the disease and they include age, race, family history, obesity or being overweight, lack of exercise, tobacco use, too much salt, low potassium levels, drinking too much alcohol, stress, certain chronic conditions, kidney disease, diabetes and sleep apnea.
If untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems. It is therefore important to have one’s blood pressure checked at least every two years, starting from age 18. However, some people may need more frequent checks. Also, healthy lifestyle habits such as not smoking, exercising and eating well can help to prevent and treat high blood pressure. Some people may require medicines to treat the disease.
It is also important that people know their blood pressure numbers and recognize their risks, as well as the physical and lifestyle attributes that can make a person more likely to develop high blood pressure.
