HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is high blood pressure, and it is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, which constitute the major causes of death in Australia. Hypertension is of major health importance and by the year 2025, hypertension is expected to increase by 60%, affecting 1.6 billion people. The danger of hypertension is that it is often doesn’t have symptoms. It is a tragedy when the first sign of high blood pressure is a stroke that leaves the victim permanently disabled.

Hypertension is preventable, easily detected and treatable. That is why the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia recommends that you should “know your blood pressure”.

On average, blood pressure is higher in men than women and so hypertension is also more frequent in men. Age is another reason why blood pressure rises, particularly in Western cultures where it is probably related to lifestyle and the middle age spread.

In most cases medical tests fail reveal a specific cause of hypertension, although a family history of high blood pressure is often detected. This reflects the fact that genes and family environment play a role. In a minority of hypertensive cases a cause will be clear such as kidney trouble or hormonal imbalances. Although uncommon, these conditions can be reversed by appropriate treatment and then blood pressure “cured”.

For the rest, treatment of hypertension either with lifestyle modification or with drugs reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

Diagnosis

Blood pressure is normally measured in a doctor’s office using a sphygmomanometer. This involves wrapping an inflatable cuff around the upper arm. The cuff is inflated until blood flow in the arteries of the arm is stopped. The cuff is slowly deflated and using a stethoscope to hear sounds of the heartbeat.

The pressure at which sounds start is the systolic pressure. This is the maximum pressure developed by the beating heart. The lowest pressure between heartbeats is also recorded when sounds disappear. This is the diastolic blood pressure. Pressures are usually recorded in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and cited as systolic over diastolic pressure, for example, 120/80 mmHg. Resting blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg is generally considered normal.

Blood pressure can be very variable and can be elevated by stress, emotional state, recent physical activity, smoking, caffeine and even talking. Hypertension is not therefore diagnosed until resting blood pressure is shown to be consistently elevated after several successive visits to your doctor. Sometimes blood pressures can be measured by automated machines at home, but it is important to use reliable equipment.

Treatment

The starting point is to ensure that you have a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle factors that reduce blood pressure include weight reduction, regular aerobic exercise, low salt diet and alcohol restriction. If drug treatment is necessary, doctors and patients have a wide range of useful drugs to choose from.

The names of the major classes of drugs used in the treatment of hypertension include diuretics (water tablets), beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin antagonists and calcium antagonists. It is estimated that about 8% of Australians take blood pressure medications which they usually take for life.

Exercise

Regular exercise may prevent or control high blood pressure. Moderate-level aerobic activities, such as brisk walking, for 30 minutes a day may be enough to keep you off medications or help them work more effectively. Exercise can reduce blood pressure readings by as much as 5-15 points. Gradually increase the intensity of your workout to continue lowering your blood pressure to safer levels.

Resources: WebMD