What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is too high. This makes your heart work harder to pump blood around your body. Over time, this can damage your arteries and lead to serious health problems like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney issues.
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers. The first number, systolic pressure, shows how hard your blood pushes when your heart beats. The second number, diastolic pressure, shows the pressure when your heart rests between beats. You have high blood pressure if your reading is 130/80 mmHg or higher.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is often known as a "silent killer" because most people don’t have any symptoms, even when their blood pressure is very high. This means you could have high blood pressure for years without knowing it.
That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly. In most cases, high blood pressure doesn’t cause any clear signs. However, some people may experience:
- Severe headache
- Feeling sick or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Blurry or double-vision
- Nosebleeds
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Trouble breathing
What Is Normal Range For Blood Pressure?
A normal or healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. If your top number is between 120 and 129 and your bottom number is 80 or less, it’s considered elevated. Stage one high blood pressure is 130-139/80-89, while stage two is 140/90 or higher.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure can happen for different reasons. There are two main types: primary (essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Primary Hypertension
This type of high blood pressure develops over time and usually doesn’t have one clear cause. It’s the most common type and is influenced by several things, such as:
- Age: The older you get, the more likely you are to have high blood pressure, especially after 55.
- Family history: If your family has high blood pressure, you’re more likely to have it too.
- Unhealthy habits: Overeating salt, not getting enough exercise, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk.
- Being overweight: Carrying extra weight makes your heart work harder, which can raise your blood pressure.
- Stress: Long-term stress can also lead to higher blood pressure.
Since primary hypertension develops slowly, many people don’t notice it until they have a health check-up.
Secondary Hypertension
Secondary hypertension happens suddenly and is caused by another health condition or certain medications. It tends to cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Some causes include:
- Kidney problems: Kidney disease can affect how your body controls blood pressure.
- Sleep issues: Obstructive sleep apnea, where your breathing stops and starts during sleep, can lead to high blood pressure.
- Adrenal gland problems: Tumours or other issues with your adrenal glands can cause hormone changes that raise your blood pressure.
- Thyroid disorders: An overactive or underactive thyroid can also cause high blood pressure.
- Medications: Some medicines, like birth control pills, decongestants, and painkillers, can increase your blood pressure.
- Illegal drugs: Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can quickly raise blood pressure.
What Medicines To Use For High Blood Pressure?
Several medications work differently; your doctor may try different ones to see what works best for you. Some common medications include:
- Diuretics (water pills): These help your body get rid of extra salt and water to lower your blood pressure.
- ACE inhibitors: These relax your blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): These helps to keep blood vessels open by blocking certain hormones.
- Calcium channel blockers: These prevent calcium from entering your heart and blood vessels, helping them relax.
- Beta blockers: These reduce the heart's workload by slowing your heart rate and reducing the force of each beat.
How To Manage High Blood Pressure At Home?
Making healthy choices can help lower your blood pressure. Here are some important changes that can make a big difference:
- Eat healthy foods: Try to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Cut back on salt and unhealthy fats.
- Reduce salt: Lowering your salt intake to less than 1,500 milligrams a day can help control your blood pressure.
- Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, like walking or biking.
- Maintain a healthy weight: If you're overweight, even a small weight loss can help lower your blood pressure.
- Limit alcohol: Drinking less alcohol can improve your blood pressure.
- Quit smoking: Smoking raises blood pressure and damages your arteries, so quitting is important.
- Manage stress: Try stress-relieving activities like yoga, deep breathing, or meditation to help lower your blood pressure.
Get High Blood Pressure Treatment Online With Mobi Doctor
Managing high blood pressure is easy with Mobi Doctor. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you can get treatment from home. All you need to do is fill out a short questionnaire, and a healthcare professional will contact you. They’ll advise you on managing your blood pressure, including the right medication and lifestyle tips.
You don’t have to worry about visiting a clinic with Mobi Doctor. You can get the help you need online anytime.
Start taking control of your blood pressure today with Mobi Doctor’s easy and convenient service!
