- Atreum Speciality Hospital
- March 21, 2022
High Blood Pressure..! Causes & Symptoms
High Blood Pressure, also known as Hypertension is a common condition in which the pressure of the blood against the arterial walls is high enough to eventually cause health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
Hypertension is quite common. Nearly every 3 out of 10 adults are diagnosed with this condition. Hypertension develops over a couple of years. Usually, you won’t notice any symptoms, but hypertension without any symptoms too can cause damage to your brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys. It can take years or even decades for the condition to become severe enough for the symptoms to be noticeable.
Noticeable symptoms of high blood pressure are as follows:
- Dizziness
- Nose bleed
- Early tiredness
- Vision problems
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Breathlessness
Causes of high blood pressure:
There are two types of high blood pressure, they are as follows:
Primary hypertension: This type of hypertension has no identifiable causes and develops gradually over years. This type of hypertension is most commonly found in adults.
Secondary hypertension: Some people have high blood pressure caused by the underlying condition, this type of hypertension is called secondary hypertension. It can have a sudden onset and affect even young people. Some factors causing secondary hypertension are:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney disease
- Tumors of the adrenal glands
- Thyroid problems
- Some of the defects you have in the blood vessels (congenital)
- Illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines
Some lifestyle tips to lower the risk of hypertension:
- Include fruits and vegetables in your diet.
- Limit refined sugar: Try to limit the number of sugary foods, such as flavored yogurt, whole grains, and sodas, that you eat every day. Packaged foods hide unnecessary sugar, so be sure to read the labels before you eat them.
- Reduce your sodium intake: People living with high blood pressure and those at risk for heart disease are advised to keep their daily sodium intake between 1,500 milligrams and 2,300 milligrams per day.
- Set healthy weight goals: If your doctor recommends you to keep a check on your weight, talk to them about the healthy weight goal that is right for you. However, this can be achieved through more nutritious foods and increased physical activities.
- Stress management: stressful lifestyle remains the single most independent factor contributing significantly to developing hypertension. Thus decreasing stressful environments both at work and home keeps you away from high blood pressure. Meditation and yoga can be added advantages.
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly: The best way to prevent complications and avoid complications is early detection. Note down your blood pressure readings after every hospital visit.
- Compliant with medications: once you have been diagnosed with hypertension, follow the advice of your doctor and take medicines at the proper time, and not stop unless advised by the doctor.
The good news is that in many cases of hypertension, lifestyle changes can be powerful tools to manage or even reverse if in the early stages. Since high blood pressure usually does not have any symptoms, it is important to check your blood pressure during an annual body checkup. Severe hypertension can cause serious health problems, so prevention and early detection with proper treatment is the key to preventing long-term complications.
Visit the best doctors at Atreum Speciality Hospital. Book an appointment.
