Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) a Risk?

Our day starts with a dash of coffee and a dollop of tension. We eat our unhealthy breakfast with frustration on the side. We travel to work with a bag of anger and so on. We don’t have time for our physical and mental health in this busy competitive world, but in the name of relaxation, we indulge in a couple of drinks and smoke often. Do we care about our health? Yes. We may say yes… but we don’t even have time to think about it… We would rather consume Blood pressure tablets and get over the stress. Ask someone what Blood pressure is, and they will say getting angry or screaming at someone. In a broader sense, yes, it is. But Hypertension is much more than that. 

Hypertension…. The very normal BP of our lifestyle is a serious abnormality of our health. According to WHO, “blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the body’s arteries, the major blood vessels in the body. Hypertension is when blood pressure is too high.” The term ‘too high’ what does it mean? Before that, it’s important to know the types of hypertension reading.

• Systolic Blood Pressure: In simple words, the top number of blood pressure readings is Systolic Blood Pressure.
• Diastolic Blood Pressure: It is the bottom number of blood pressure readings. 

Now, high blood pressure means Systolic Blood Pressure ≥140 and Diastolic Blood Pressure mmHg ≥90 mmHg, where the normal Blood pressure range is 120/80 mm Hg.

The fight between healthy life and Hypertension: 

The stress-buster teas, coffees, those lip-smacking spicy-salty street food, the rich restaurant food, mouth-watering snacks, and the quick and convenient fast food tastes are often irresistible. These foods are so convenient and are easily available everywhere. Do you like salty potato fries with peri-peri masala? Most of us say yes. But how many hours do we sweat in the gym? Or do we go for a brisk walk every day? No right? Due to our lifestyle, we don’t have time to cook and eat healthy food. What about exercise? We postpone it to tomorrow, which never comes. These are some main factors that cause Hypertension. 

Blood pressure is classified into 2 types.

• Primary Hypertension
• Secondary Hypertension.

Primary Hypertension: 90% of the blood pressure patient suffer from primary conditions.

The reasons behind primary Hypertension are listed below.

• The complex interaction of genes and environmental factors. 
• Age factors.
• Western food culture and lifestyle. 
• Environmental factors and pollution issues.
• Excess salt intake. 
• Central obesity and lack of exercise. 
• Caffeine and alcohol consumption. 
• Vitamin D deficiency. 
• Insulin resistance. 
• Metabolic syndrome. 
• Low birth weight. 
• Maternal smoking during and after pregnancy. 
• Lack of breastfeeding in infants.
• Arsenic exposure through drinking water.

People with such conditions suffer from headaches, particularly at the backside of the head in the morning. Along with that, lightheadedness, vertigo, tinnitus, and giddiness are the other symptoms. Primary Hypertension is directly connected to lifestyle, which we can avoid by adopting a healthy path.

Secondary Hypertension: Only 10% of people suffer from such conditions. This kind of Hypertension is associated with health complications like kidney disease, narrowing of kidney arteries, an endocrine disorder, etc. The symptoms of secondary Hypertension can be identified easily. Truncal obesity, Glucose intolerance, moon face, buffalo bump, and purple abdominal stretch marks are commonly observed. Sometimes intake of birth control pills also leads to secondary Hypertension.

Hypertension Crisis: 

 In general, we associate the term crisis with an emergency. We can relate the same here. In this condition, the blood pressure is severed, and the measurement will be equal to or greater than systolic 180 or diastolic 110. A hypertensive crisis can be explained under 2 circumstances. 

• Hypertensive urgency. 

In this case, there is no evidence of organ damage, and the blood pressure can be reduced gradually over 24 to 48 hours through oral medicine.

• Hypertensive emergency. 

In this case, one or more organs, like the brain, kidney, heart, lungs, etc., will be damaged. Patients with Hypertensive emergency are usually found with the symptoms like acute mental confusion, drowsiness, chest pain, breathlessness, etc. Here the blood pressure must be reduced quickly to stop organ damage.

Dear mom, please listen…

Motherhood is the sweetest moment of a women’s life. Do you know that 8 to 10% of women are diagnosed with Hypertension during pregnancy? There are kinds in this. Pre-existing hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia can be considered a serious problem. This condition emerges in the second half of the pregnancy and can be seen even after delivery. Pre-eclampsia is responsible for approx. 16% of maternal deaths globally, and the risk of newborn death is also high. Usually, no specific symptoms are observed, but they can be diagnosed by routine screening. Common symptoms are headaches, visual disturbance, vomiting, stomach pain, swelling, etc. Pre-eclampsia can be converted into Eclampsia, which is a life-threatening condition.

The major risks involved are

• Vision loss
• Brain Swelling
• Seizures
• Pulmonary edema
• Kidney failure
• Disseminated Intravascular coagulation. etc.

If you observe a headache, absence of sufficient growth, unexplained irritability, fatigue, blurred vision, nose bleeding, facial paralysis, etc., in your child, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor. Newborns with a lack of energy, difficulty in breathing, irritability, undernourishment, and seizures may be suffering from Hypertension. These symptoms are connected with Hypertension, and your child can face serious health consequences in the future. There is no specific age limit for Hypertension; from the first cry to the last breath, one can fall prey to Hypertension at any point in time.

Also, Read Carpal Syndrome in Pregnancy

How happy are you?

We always associate anger with high blood pressure. Do you know that people even feel depressed and nervous because of Hypertension? A blood pressure patient may often feel lonely and sad. Anger, depression, etc., cannot make one’s life easy. A good and healthy lifestyle can take a Hypertension patient towards happiness. We should learn to smile or, even better, laugh wholeheartedly even though there is no camera focusing on us.

A life far away from Hypertension. 

Just imagine a day like this… you wake up to a pleasant morning, healthy yet yummy food, cheerful conversations, sports and exercise, and a night of good sleep. It seems to be a happy one, right? Some simple changes can pull us away from Hypertension. Most of the causes of high blood pressure are related to lifestyle, and altering one’s lifestyle will create wonders to reduce or prevent Hypertension. 

• We can switch to healthy and traditional food practices. (Reduce your salt intake even marginally) Avoid mouth-watering salty food, and adopt a potassium and vitamin-D-rich and plant-based diet. 
• Obesity causes more damage; hence, a brisk morning walk, working out at the gym, regular exercise, yoga, etc., will help cut down the body’s excess fat. 
• Meditation, music, and involvement in any hobbies can help to calm the mind. 
• Coffee, cocaine, and methamphetamine consumption always contribute to Hypertension. Avoid them for better results. Herbal tea is the better alternative. 
• Have you ever paid heed to the one slogan mentioned in every movie? Tobacco kills, and alcohol consumption is injurious to health. Alcohol and Tobacco don’t relax your mind but add more stress to your blood pressure. Say no to alcohol and Tobacco.  
• Move towards a pollution-free environment. It reduces Hypertension and other major diseases caused by pollutants.
• Suppose you observe any of the symptoms; never hesitate to consult a doctor. Remember doctor is our best friend in this regard.  
• Self-medication can add fuel to the fire. Get diagnosed first and follow the doctor’s prescription.  

We work hard for a prosperous life, and such a life is not possible without good health. Good practices can reduce blood pressure levels. Even though Hypertension is dangerous, its control is in our hands. Choose healthy ways and lead a healthy life.

Disclaimer: The information included here is only for knowledge-sharing purposes, and the blog is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment by a healthcare professional. Because individual needs appropriate advice, the reader should consult their doctor to determine the appropriate disease depending on their situation.