Hypertension - have you got it?. Review on Dealing with Hypertension

Hypertension, the correct name for high pressure. Hypertension can lead to serious consequences, and it is therefore important that your BP(Blood pressure) is correctly monitored and treated as necessary. Hypertension is simply put when your arteries are narrowed and the b lood is pushed harder through them. Most patients do not know they have hypertension until they go to their doctor for something else and have their B P read as routine. Normal BP's are around 120/80, which is ideal. However as you get older this increases and the acceptable norm becomes 160/90(at around 60 years). In ninety per cent of people the cause for their hypertension is unknown, this is called ‘primary or essential’ hypertension. In the rest of the cases there are reasons this is usually called ‘secondary hypertension’ Some of the main reasons include: chronic kidney diseases, diseases in the arteries supplying the kidneys, chronic alcohol abuse, hormonal disturbances and endocrine tumours. B P is measured with a special cuff machine, which is placed around your arm and the pressure increased until it feels tight. Then the pressure is released slowly and the pressure reading is taken with the sound of the heart beat/pulse.

These days we are lucky enough to have home monitors and easy to use monitrs. The one I have at home slips around your wrist and within minutes you have an accurate B P reading. If you do have a chace to get a home moniitor it is certainly worth it. I was placed on tablets for Hypoertension, as every time I went to the Doctor/hospital I would get high B P readings. After being placed on the pills, I decided to invest in a B P home monitor(At a cost of around £50). Howeverm my home reading were far lower than those takenin medical centres. When I explained this to my doctors I was told it was probably ’white coat syndorme’.

Apparently lots of people get stressed at medical centres(I dread to think what my readin would be like when I go to the dentist then!), and this could sometimes relate untrue readings. My monitoring at home contiuned and I was eventually allowed off the tablets. [It would be advisable to get your B P checked when you are more relaxed at home BEFORE going on medication. Some surgeries might loan you one for a few weeks to get a correct assessment – worth asking]. So are there any symptoms of Hypertension? Yes there are, but not many and like I have said many people ONLY get ther B P picked up at routine sugeries for something different.

Signs of blood presure include:

Nose bleeds; serious breathing problems; headache; sleepiness; and confusion.

However there are things that can INCREASE your risk of hyptertension and these include:

· A tendency in the family to suffer hypertension

· Obesity

· Smoking

· Diabetes type 1 or type 2

· Kidney diseases

· High alcohol intake

· Excessive salt intake

· Lack of exercise

You can help by having your B P read if you think you are at risk; changing your lifestyle(if it’s unhealthy); doing some exercise; stopping smoking; cutting down on alcohol.

All can reduce your risk of complications from B P and indeed your B P itself.

Future complications include:

· Strokes(CVAs) - cerebral haemmorhage or cerebral thrombosis

· Abdominal aortic aneurysms - expansion of the main artery in the abdomen

· Heart failure(reduced pumping ability)

· Kidney failure

· Eye damage Treatments are available which are effective and your doctor will prescribe the medication he/she thinks is suitable for you.

Some tablets offer protection against other problems, such as lisinopril in diabetics will help protect the liver against problems. BP can be controlled effectively with the right medication, although certain lifestyle changes may need to be made also.

Thanks for reading - Dave