Content
- Hypertension is a chronic condition characterized by an increase in blood pressure above 140x90 mmHg.
- There are usually no symptoms, but in some cases headaches, vision changes or dizziness may appear.
- The most common causes are a diet rich in salt and lack of regular exercise, but it can also happen due to some health problem.
- The diagnosis can take a little time, but it is usually made by the general practitioner after several measurements of blood pressure in the office.
- Treatment always includes care with food, such as reducing the amount of salt, but it may also need to be done with medicines for high blood pressure.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension, popularly known as high blood pressure, is characterized by a blood pressure above 140 x 90 mmHg, which is maintained in several measurements, made on different days.
Hypertension happens when the blood has difficulty circulating in the blood vessels and, therefore, the heart needs to beat harder to get the blood to pass throughout the body.
This type of alteration is considered one of the most common diseases in the population and usually happens due to an unbalanced diet and lack of physical exercise, although it can also happen due to the presence of other health problems such as kidney diseases or heart disorders.
Main symptoms of hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a silent condition, which in most cases does not cause any symptoms. For this reason, it is very common to have hypertension for several years before any symptoms appear.
Still, when spikes occur when blood pressure rises very suddenly, symptoms of high blood pressure may appear, such as:
- Sickness and dizziness;
- Headache;
- Somnolence;
- Ringing in the ear;
- Vision changes;
- Difficulty breathing.
Whenever any of these symptoms appear, it is very important to make an appointment with a general practitioner to assess the possibility of having hypertension, initiating the appropriate treatment. In addition, there are some measures that can be taken during a peak of hypertension that help regulate blood pressure, such as trying to relax or taking the pressure medicine prescribed by the doctor.
The best way to identify hypertension is to take regular blood pressure measurements, to identify when it is above 140 x 90 mmHg. So, a good strategy can be to do check-ups 2 to 3 times a year with the general practitioner or family doctor, for example.
What causes hypertension
Hypertension arises whenever there is any change that makes it difficult for the blood to circulate in the blood vessels, increasing the pressure that the heart needs to make in order for the blood to circulate correctly. However, depending on the type of hypertension, there are different causes:
Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension is one that arises over time without being related to any health problem or use of any type of substance or medication and, therefore, the cause is more difficult to identify.
This is the most common type of hypertension and is usually related to factors such as:
- Genetics: some people and families are more likely to have high blood pressure;
- Poor diet: an unhealthy diet, such as high intake of salt, sugar and fried foods can cause changes that increase blood pressure;
- Lack of physical activity: physical exercise is important to maintain the proper functioning of the heart and to regulate blood pressure.
In addition, age can also cause an increase in blood pressure due to decreased elasticity of blood vessels. It is for this reason that hypertension is also more common in the elderly.
Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension is more rare, but it usually has easier causes to identify such as:
- Kidney disease;
- Heart problems;
- Thyroid disorders;
- Use of some medications;
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Hormonal diseases.
When it is normal to have high blood pressure
High blood pressure is not always bad, nor does it mean you have hypertension. It is normal for the increase in blood pressure to happen in completely healthy people, in temporary situations such as exercising, feeling some pain, drinking coffee or experiencing a stressful situation, for example.
However, the pressure is expected to decrease shortly after these situations. If the pressure remains high for several days, or if it happens very regularly without any apparent cause, it is important to see a doctor, to assess whether it can really be a situation of high blood pressure.
How the diagnosis is confirmed
Since there are several everyday situations that can increase blood pressure without meaning that you have hypertension, the diagnosis cannot be made with just one blood pressure measurement.
Thus, to confirm the diagnosis it is important that at least 3 blood pressure measurements are made on three different days with a minimum interval of one week between each measurement.In addition, it is important that measurements are made by a health professional, as it is necessary to know how to measure blood pressure correctly to avoid mistakes when evaluating results.
Some doctors may also ask the person to take some measurements at home or at the pharmacy to rule out the possibility that blood pressure is increased in the office due to white coat syndrome.
When hypertension is suspected, the doctor may also advise you to perform other tests that help to identify a possible cause, such as urine test, blood test, electrocardiogram or renal ultrasound.
How to understand the value of blood pressure
To understand the value of blood pressure you need to know the two values:
- Systolic pressure: it is usually the highest value of the measurement (eg 135 mmHg) and represents the pressure that is made in the arteries when the heart beats;
- Diastolic pressure: this is the lowest value (eg 65 mmHg) and represents the pressure in the artery walls between each heart beat.
After measurement, blood pressure is classified according to this table:
Classification | Systolic pressure (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) |
Great | < 120 | < 80 |
Normal | < 130 | < 85 |
Borderline | 130 to 139 | 85 to 89 |
Stage 1 hypertension | 140 to 159 | 90 to 99 |
Stage 2 hypertension | 160 to 179 | 100 to 109 |
Stage 3 hypertension | >= 180 | >= 110 |
The higher the stage of hypertension, the greater the risk of serious complications. People with borderline pressure and stage 1 hypertension may be able to regulate the pressure with only a few lifestyle changes, while people with stage 2 and 3 hypertension usually need to make use of prescription drugs.
How treatment should be done
Treatment for hypertension varies according to the type of hypertension. This is because, in the case of secondary hypertension it is very important to identify the cause and initiate targeted treatment to correct the disease or problem that is at the origin of high blood pressure.
In situations of primary hypertension, which is the most common type, lifestyle changes and even medications are needed to directly regulate blood pressure:
1. Remedies for high blood pressure
Although there are several remedies capable of lowering blood pressure, they are usually only indicated by the doctor when it is not possible to regulate blood pressure only with changes in lifestyle such as improving diet and exercising regularly. In these cases, the most used drugs include:
- Diuretics, such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide or spironolactone;
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), such as captopril, enalapril or ramipril;
- Angiotensin receptor antagonists, such as losartan, valsartan or telmisartan;
- Beta blockers, such as propranolol, atenolol or carvedilol;
- Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine, nifedipine or nicardipine;
- Vasodilators, such as minoxidil or hydralazine.
These drugs can be used alone or in combination, but should always be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes to ensure a better effect on blood pressure.
2. Diet for high blood pressure
The hypertension diet is one of the most important changes to help lower blood pressure. It is important to eat healthy, varied and low in salt, sugar and foods with a lot of fat.
Thus, it is important to give preference to fruits, vegetables, cereals and lean proteins, such as white meat and fish, for example.
3. Regular practice of physical exercise
Along with diet, another lifestyle change that is indispensable is regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week. The most targeted exercises to maintain vascular health are aerobic, such as running, walking, cycling or swimming, for example.
4. Natural remedies for high blood pressure
To complement the treatment guided by the doctor there are also some natural remedies that help to regulate blood pressure. Some examples are garlic water, olive leaf tea or valerian tea.
These remedies should always be used with the knowledge of the doctor and under the guidance of a naturopath.
Hypertension during pregnancy
Hypertension is a condition that can also happen during pregnancy, and that must be well controlled to avoid the appearance of complications that put the life of the pregnant woman or baby at risk.
A complication that can arise with the increase in blood pressure during this phase is pre-eclampsia, which is characterized by a constant increase in blood pressure and lesions in different organs of the body, especially kidneys, lungs and liver, in addition to increasing the risk prematurity and abortion.
When a woman suspects high blood pressure in pregnancy, she should consult the obstetrician and initiate appropriate treatment, which usually includes the use of medications and dietary changes, in order to avoid all complications.
Possible complications of hypertension
When hypertension is not identified and treated properly, several years can pass in which the pressure remains high and creates small lesions in the vessels and organs throughout the body. For this reason, there are several serious complications of hypertension, such as:
Heart diseases
The increase in blood pressure makes the heart need to pump harder, in order to be able to send blood to the whole body. When this happens for several years in a row, several problems can arise such as:
- Cardiac insufficiency;
- Arrhythmia;
- Angina pectoris.
In addition, people with uncontrolled hypertension are also at increased risk of developing aortic aneurysms and even infarction.
Brain changes
Due to the increase in blood pressure inside the vessels of the brain, several lesions at the brain level can occur, which can cause changes such as memory problems, difficulty in learning and even difficulty in speaking.
In addition, high blood pressure can cause a decrease in the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, increasing the risk of ischemic stroke.
Kidney problems
Increased blood pressure can also cause damage to the fragile kidney blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing kidney failure.
How to prevent high blood pressure
The best way to prevent high blood pressure is to have a healthy lifestyle. For this reason, some actions that can greatly decrease the risk of hypertension include:
- Eat a healthy, balanced and low salt diet;
- Avoid excess body weight;
- Do regular physical exercise, 3 to 5 times a week;
- Avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
It is also important to have regular blood pressure monitoring, at least 2 to 3 times a year, as well as annual check-ups with the doctor, in order to identify conditions that may increase the risk of high blood pressure.