High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common disease of the cardiovascular system and can lead to health problems like heart disease, stroke and heart attacks.

Blood pressure is measured by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the force of the flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm in a healthy adult. Blood pressure readings of 140/90 mm or higher, taken on at least two occasions, is an indication of high blood pressure.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

The scariest part about high blood pressure is that many do not experience any symptoms and don’t know they suffer from this disease. Visiting your physician regularly and getting your blood pressure checked is the best way to stay on top of your blood pressure health. In extreme hypertensive emergencies, your blood pressure can rise so high that it can cause damage to your organs. The readings in this case are 180/110 or higher.

Symptoms of a high blood pressure emergency include:

• Increasing confusion or level of consciousness
• Increasing shortness of breath
• Headache or blurred vision
• Swelling or edema (fluid buildup in the tissues)
• Seizure
• Increasing chest pain

What causes high blood pressure?

There are two types of hypertension (or high blood pressure), primary and secondary. Primary hypertension is a condition that develops gradually with adults and there is no one known cause. Secondary hypertension, however, can come on suddenly and has higher spikes in blood pressure readings than primary hypertension. Conditions and medications can be the cause of this and include:

• Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs
• Certain defects in blood vessels you're born with (congenital)
• Kidney problems
• Adrenal gland tumors
• Illegal drugs, like amphetamines and cocaine

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

High blood pressure is diagnosed by applying a blood pressure cuff to the arm, inflating it, and taking a reading. The doctor or nurse uses a stethoscope to listen for the appearance and disappearance of sound produced by the pulse in your elbow region. That's how the systolic and diastolic blood pressures are determined.

• When the heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on the arteries, which is called systolic blood pressure.
• The diastolic blood pressure, or number on the bottom, indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

Learn more about our screenings and diagnostic tests.

How is high blood pressure treated?

Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise are important to controlling high blood pressure. If you smoke, quit now. Reducing your sodium intake to less than 1500 mg a day will help if you suffer from high blood pressure. Sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough and your physician may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure:

• Beta blockers. These medications reduce the workload on your heart and open your blood vessels, causing your heart to beat slower and with less force.
• Thiazide diuretics. Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, are medications that act on your kidneys to help your body eliminate sodium and water, reducing blood volume.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications help relax blood vessels by blocking the action of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medications help relax blood vessels by blocking the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
• Calcium channel blockers. These medications help relax the muscles of your blood vessels and some slow your heart rate.
• Renin inhibitors. Aliskiren (Tekturna) slows down the production of renin, an enzyme produced by your kidneys that starts a chain of chemical steps, which increase blood pressure. Tekturna works by reducing the ability of renin to begin this process.

Medication prescribed depends on your level of blood pressure, and other conditions you may be suffering from.