Blood pressure.. what are the symptoms and causes

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Overview

Blood pressure.. what are the symptoms and causes

Hypertension (hypertension) is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood on the walls of the arteries is high enough that it can eventually lead to health problems such as heart disease.

Blood pressure is determined by how much blood your heart pumps and the resistance to arterial blood flow. The more blood the heart pumps the narrower the arteries and the higher the blood pressure. Blood pressure readings are in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). It has two numbers.

Top count (systolic blood pressure). The first or top number measures the pressure in the arteries as the heart beats.
Bottom numbers (diastolic). The second or lower number measures arterial pressure between beats.

You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems including heart attack and stroke. Fortunately high blood pressure is easy to detect. Once you know you have high blood pressure you can work together your doctor to control it.

symptoms

Even with blood pressure readings that are dangerously high most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms.

A small number of people with high blood pressure may experience headaches shortness of breath or nosebleeds but these signs and symptoms are not specific and usually appear when high blood pressure reaches a severe or life-threatening stage.

When to see a doctor

As part of your regular doctor's appointment you may have your blood pressure measured.

Beginning at age 18 ask your doctor for blood pressure readings at least every two years. If you're 40 or older or if you're at high risk for high blood pressure between the ages of 18 and 39 ask your doctor for blood pressure readings every few years.

Blood pressure in both arms should usually be checked to determine if there is a difference. It is important to use the correct size cuff.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease your doctor may recommend that you read more frequently. Children 3 years and older usually have their blood pressure measured at annual checkups.

If you don't see your doctor regularly you can get free blood pressure screenings at health resource fairs or other locations in your community. You can also find machines that measure your blood pressure for free at some stores.

Public blood pressure monitors in pharmacies may provide useful information about your blood pressure but they may have some limitations. The accuracy of these machines depends on several factors such as correct cuff size and correct use of the machine. Consult with your doctor Recommendations for using a public sphygmomanometer.

Causes

There are two types of high blood pressure.

Primary (essential) hypertension

For most adults there is no clear cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure called essential (essential) hypertension tends to develop gradually over many years.

Secondary hypertension

High blood pressure in some people is caused by an underlying medical condition. This type of high blood pressure called secondary hypertension tends to come on suddenly and lead to higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Various conditions and medications can cause secondary hypertension Include:

Obstructive sleep apnea
Kidney disease
Adrenal gland tumors
Thyroid problems
Certain Inborn (Congenital) Vascular Defects
Certain medicines such as birth control pills cold medicine decongestants over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription medicines
Illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines

Risk factors

There are many risk factors for high blood pressure including:

age. The risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age. High blood pressure is more common in men until about age 64. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after age 65.
Race. High blood pressure is particularly common in people of African descent often appearing earlier than in white people. Serious complications such as stroke heart attack and kidney failure are also more common in people of African descent.
family history. Hypertension tends to run in families.
Overweight or obese. The heavier you are the more blood is needed to supply your tissues with oxygen and nutrients. As blood flow through the blood vessels increases so does the pressure on the walls of the arteries.
No physical activity. People who don't exercise tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate the harder your heart has to work with each contraction and the stronger the force on your arteries. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.
Use tobacco. Not only does smoking or chewing tobacco temporarily raise your blood pressure immediately but the chemicals in the tobacco can damage the lining of the arterial walls. This can cause your arteries to narrow and increase your risk of heart disease. Secondhand smoke can also increase your Heart disease risk.
Too much salt (sodium) in the diet. Too much sodium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluids which can increase blood pressure.
Too little potassium in the diet. Potassium helps balance sodium levels in cells. A proper balance of potassium is essential for good heart health. If you don't get enough potassium in your diet or lose too much potassium due to dehydration or other health conditions sodium can build up in your blood.
Drinking too much alcohol. Over time heavy drinking can damage your heart. Drinking more than 1 cup per day for women and 2 cups per day for men may affect your blood pressure.
If you drink alcohol drink in moderation. For healthy adults this means up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. One drink is equal to 12 ounces of beer 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof wine.
pressure. High levels of stress can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure. Stress-related habits such as eating more tobacco or drinking alcohol can lead to further increases in blood pressure.
certain chronic diseases. Certain chronic diseases may also increase the risk of high blood pressure including kidney disease diabetes and sleep apnea.

Sometimes pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure.

While high blood pressure is most common in adults children can also be at risk. For some children high blood pressure is caused by kidney or heart problems. But for a growing number of children poor lifestyle habits - such as an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise - can take a toll to high blood pressure.

Complications

The excessive pressure that high blood pressure puts on the walls of your arteries can damage your blood vessels and organs. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it is left uncontrolled the greater the damage.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications including:

Heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure can cause arteries to harden and thicken (atherosclerosis) which can lead to heart attacks or other complications.
Aneurysm. Elevated blood pressure can cause blood vessels to weaken and swell to form an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures it can be life-threatening.
heart failure. To pump blood to the higher pressures in the blood vessels the heart has to work harder. This causes the walls of the pumping chambers of the heart to thicken (left ventricular hypertrophy). Ultimately thickened muscles may struggle to pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Demand that may lead to heart failure.
Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in the kidneys. This prevents these organs from functioning properly.
Thickening narrowing or tearing of blood vessels in the eye. This can lead to vision loss.
Metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is a group of metabolic disorders in the body that include increased waist circumference high triglycerides decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol) high blood pressure and high insulin levels. These conditions make you more likely Develop diabetes heart disease and stroke.
Problems with memory or understanding. Uncontrolled high blood pressure may also affect your ability to think remember and learn. Problems with memory or understanding concepts are more common in people with high blood pressure.
Dementia. Narrowed or blocked arteries can restrict blood flow to the brain leading to a type of dementia (vascular dementia). A stroke that interrupts blood flow to the brain can also lead to vascular dementia.