Hypertension

High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension is when the force of the blood on your artery walls is consistently too high. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because there may be no symptoms until a complication such as a stroke occurs. The increased pressure of the blood creates more work for the heart and can lead to heart failure, and over time the pressure on the artery walls will damage the walls creating areas where cholesterol and other lipids can accumulate (a plaque). This condition is known as atherosclerosis and is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

A blood pressure measurement consists of a systolic (top) number and a diastolic (bottom) number. The systolic pressure correlates to the force that blood is pumped out of the heart. The diastolic pressure reflects the force of recoil of the larger arteries after they have expanded as the blood flows through them.

 

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (2017 Guideline)

For more information on these guidelines go to https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2017/11/09/11/41/2017-Guideline-for-High-Blood-Pressure-in-Adults

 Several health risks are associated with hypertension

 

  1. Heart Disease: Hypertension puts strain on the heart, increasing the risk of conditions like coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and heart failure.

  2. Stroke: High blood pressure can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of stroke by causing blood vessels to rupture or leading to blood clots.

  3. Kidney Damage: Uncontrolled hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing their ability to filter waste and leading to kidney disease.

  4. Vision Problems: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, potentially causing vision impairment or even blindness.

  5. Aneurysms: Hypertension weakens the walls of blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing aneurysms—bulges in blood vessels that can rupture and lead to life-threatening bleeding.

  6. Peripheral Artery Disease: Narrowed arteries due to hypertension can reduce blood flow to the limbs, leading to pain, numbness, and in severe cases, tissue damage or amputation.

  7. Cognitive Decline: Chronic high blood pressure may contribute to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

  8. Metabolic Syndrome: Hypertension often occurs alongside other risk factors like obesity, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels, collectively known as metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

 The CDC recommends several strategies to prevent high blood pressure:

  1. Healthy Eating

  2. Maintain a Healthy Weight

  3. Stay Active

  4. Limit Sodium Intake

  5. Moderate Alcohol

  6. Quit Smoking

  7. Manage Stress

  8. Limit Caffeine

  9. Regular Check of BP

  10. Take All Prescribed Medications

For more information on hypertension (high blood pressure) go to https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure

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