High Blood Pressure: Causes, Prevention And Treatment

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

 

People with hypertension have persistently high blood vessel pressure. Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries (vessels) as it is pumped by the heart through two aspirating and impending movements called diastole and systole respectively. On the day of high blood pressure it is good to review its causes, how to carry out a correct prevention and potential treatments.

 

Hypertension is a treatable cardiovascular disease, but its lack of attention can lead to greater ills such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

 

One of the most common consequences of hypertension is hardening of the arteries under continuous pressure. These thicken, making it difficult for blood to flow to different parts of the body. The damage occurs in the blood vessels where a large amount of triglycerides and fats are deposited, which can favor arteriosclerosis.

 

Hypertension is a great risk factor for contracting cardiovascular diseases and its symptoms may not be noticeable, which is why periodic checks are the best tool to detect this silent disease that afflicts a large part of the world population.

 

Symptoms of hypertension

·        Severe headaches.

·        Breathing difficulty.

·        Vertigo or dizziness.

·        Chest pain.

·        Palpitations

·        Nosebleeds

 

Causes of hypertension

The list of causes of hypertension is extensive and varied:

 

Genetic factors: When a person has one or both hypertensive parents, they have a greater chance of developing the disease.

Sex: men are more likely to have hypertension than women until they reach the age of menopause (Female hormones protect women in childbearing age). Then they are matched.

Age: blood pressure increases over time due to the effect of tissue wear.

Overweight and obesity: as weight increases, blood pressure rises. This is most evident in those under 40 and in women. In the case of obesity, regardless of age, the risk increases considerably.

Renal dysfunction: the malfunctioning of the kidneys affects the development of the disease. The main vascular pathologies are polycystic kidney disease, chronic, renin-producing tumors, Liddle syndrome, and renal artery stenosis.

Endocrinological causes: include endogenous hormonal imbalances (congenital hypoaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma) and exogenous (administration of corticosteroids).

Neurogenic causes: brain tumors, bulbar poliomyelitis, and intracranial hypertension.

Consumption of drugs and toxins that promote the appearance of hypertension: alcohol, cocaine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, erythropoietin, decongestants that contain ephedrine, nicotine, among others.

Various diseases: such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, among others.

Prevention measures against hypertension

The first obstacle to diagnosing hypertension is that most of the time it does not appear accompanied by symptoms. People are unaware that they are hypertensive.

 

Regular blood pressure measurement is essential. Headaches are indicative of their possible existence, but they are not always related to the disease.

 

Another symptom derived from hypertension may be angina pectoris, mainly in untreated patients due to ignorance of its existence.

 

Healthy lifestyle habits to avoid overweight and obesity are decisive in avoiding hypertension. These consist of a healthy diet, the practice of exercises and the decision to abstain or quit smoking.

 

In patients with a genetic history, monitoring of tension is recommended even when there are no symptoms.

 

How to diagnose and treat hypertension?

Approved devices called sphygmomanometers, or commonly known as "sphygmomanometers," are used to measure blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHG). There are different types of devices to measure hypertension:

 

Mercury sphygmomanometer: it is the most accurate but a stethoscope is required to use it.

 

Air sphygmomanometer: it is the most widely used, highly accurate but also requires a stethoscope.

 

Electronic device: it has a built-in pulse detector so you don't need a stethoscope. It is a very sensitive device to noise and movements of the patient, so it is advisable to repeat the measurement, remain silent and immobilize the person.

 

Treatments for hypertension

 

Improving lifestyle habits: practicing physical exercise, reducing the consumption of calories, sugars and fats. Control of body mass weight. Abstinence from tobacco and alcohol consumption.

Pharmacological treatments: diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists. Taking into account that hypertension is a chronic disease, the medication must be maintained as prescribed by the doctor for the necessary time without discretionary and inconsistent decisions that cut the intake or application.

 

Self-measurement of blood pressure: monitoring blood pressure values ​​carried out at home with approved and prescribed medical devices can be very useful. Some patients increase the tension when entering a medical guard as a result of the stress characteristic of that situation.

 

Self-measurement requires a correct posture: you must be seated, with your legs not crossed, your back resting on the chair and the arm where the cuff placed on the table is placed. It is recommended that the cuff be placed on the arm, and not on the wrists.