Hypertension refers to higher blood pressure than usual. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day, depending on your activity level. If your blood pressure measures above average consistently, you may have hypertension.
Table of Contents
- 1 Types of Hypertension
- 2 What causes Blood Pressure to Rise?
- 3 What are the Symptoms of Hypertension?
- 4 How is Hypertension Diagnosed?
- 5 How is Hypertension Cured?
- 6 Can High BP cause death?
- 7 Which fruit is best for high blood pressure?
- 8 What time of day is blood pressure highest?
- 9 What are the five complications of hypertension?
- 10 Book an Appointment
Types of Hypertension
Consistently high blood pressure increases the risk of several chronic health conditions, such as heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.
Hypertension is classified into two types:
- Primary Hypertension
- Secondary Hypertension
Primary Hypertension
Primary or essential hypertension refers to high blood pressure that is not caused by a health problem. Instead, this type of hypertension occurs due to an unhealthy diet and obesity. Medication and healthy lifestyle changes can help reverse this problem.
Secondary Hypertension
Secondary hypertension refers to high blood pressure resulting from other health conditions, including the ones that affect your cardiovascular health and kidney functions. Treating this type of hypertension may also help control the condition that causes it. In fact, treating secondary hypertension is sometimes crucial to prevent kidney failure and heart disease.
What causes Blood Pressure to Rise?
Chronic high blood pressure develops over the years. It generally occurs due to Poor lifestyle choices (such as a lack of physical exercise and too much reliance on fatty, salty, and processed foods), obesity, and certain health conditions. Some women may experience hypertension during pregnancy.
Health conditions leading to hypertension are:
- Kidney disease and long-term kidney infections.
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Narrowing of arteries that supply blood to kidneys
- Hormonal imbalances, such as overactive thyroid, acromegaly, and Cushing’s syndrome
- Scleroderma
Several medicines can also cause hypertension, such as:
- Contraceptive pills with estrogen
- Corticosteroids
- Ibuprofen
- Herbal medicines contaning liquorice
- Immunosuppressive drugs
- Medications to control ADHD
- SNRIs
- Tylenol
What are the Symptoms of Hypertension?
Hypertension is called a “silent killer” as it remains asymptomatic in most cases. This is why it is imperative to check your blood pressure more often to rule out the risk of hypertension.
Some people may, however, show hypertension symptoms, such as:
- Severe headaches
- Vomiting
- Nosebleeds
- Confusion or fatigue
- Vision changes or blood spots in the vision
- Irregular heartbeat
- Buzzing sound in the ears
How is Hypertension Diagnosed?
Hypertension is checked after taking several readings of your blood pressure through the BP apparatus. The reading is given in two numbers of mm hg. The upper number is systolic pressure which measures pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. The lower number is diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in the arteries between the beats.
| Reading | Blood pressure category |
| 120/80 | Normal Blood Pressure |
| 130/80 | Elevated Blood pressure |
| 140/90 | Stage 1 Hypertension |
| 150+/90+ | Stage 2 Hypertension |
| Over 180/ Over 100 | Hypertensive crisis |
How is Hypertension Cured?
No permanent cure for hypertension exists, but you can control it through medication and lifestyle changes.
Healthy lifestyle changes to control mild hypertension include the following:
- Losing extra weight
- Eating meals with less fat and salt.
- Starting regular exercise
You may need to discuss a treatment plan with your doctor if your blood pressure is too high. They may prescribe medication to control your condition. Often, medical specialists combine two or three medicines to achieve the desired results.
Can High BP cause death?
Hypertension causes damage to your body without you even noticing. If uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to heart attacks and strokes, which can be fatal.
Which fruit is best for high blood pressure?
Citrus fruits, including oranges, grapes, and lemons, are best for blood pressure. These fruits are loaded with vitamins to keep your heart healthy.
What time of day is blood pressure highest?
The blood pressure rises before a person wakes up and reaches the highest level at midday. It typically starts dropping in the evening.
What are the five complications of hypertension?
Five hypertension-related complications include heart attack, stroke, heart disease, narrowed blood vessels, and metabolic syndrome.
Book an Appointment
EuroMed Clinic is a top-rated medical facility in Dubai providing treatments for several health problems, including hypertension. To get in touch, call us at +971 4 394 5422. Alternatively, you can fill out the form below to book a consultation.
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